Dr. Gawande’s Boston think tank is called Ariadne Labs, named after a Greek goddess who led a god out of a labyrinth with a single thread, according to the report.
“We’re in the simple threads business,” Dr. Gawande said in the WBUR report. “To show there are ways out of the labyrinth of healthcare complexity.” He said childbirth and end-of-life care represent two of the most high-risk moments in the healthcare spectrum, and they are also associated with some of the highest costs.
The think tank is dedicating a portion of its work to training physicians on holding difficult discussions that address patients’ end-of-life wishes. For example, a physician at the lab is currently experimenting with a set of questions that aim to ensure physicians understand the wishes of patients who face a prognosis of death within 6 months, according to the report.
Ariadne Labs has received donations from individuals, the Gates Foundation, and some government grants. Dr. Gawande also has support from Brigham and Women’s and the Harvard School of Public Health, according to the report.
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