I have been speaking with several physicians lately about all the changes in healthcare and their willingness to consider their other career options. Some have actually explored other avenues and let me know other industries may not have it much easier.
Many of us are feeling the long lasting changes from the economy and the majoy impact it has on our business and our personal lives. They key is to keep our head out of the sand and understand what we can control and influence in order to make the necessary changes. It is also helpful to reflect on what we really love doing and see if we could incorporate those things in our every day lives.
On that note, I am heading to Boston tomorrow to run the Boston Marathon on Monday. If I win I may reconsider my career options - look out 2009 Champions: Mens - Deriba Merga with a 2:08:42 and Women's - Salina Kosgei with a 2:32:16) and U.S. favorite Ryan Hall.
Under the slight chances of that happening (note: approximately 10% of the elite and top runners would have to be disqualified or not enter the race in order to help me achieve this goal), I am prepared to get back to my post at the hospital and continue to look for ways we could manage our healthcare systems like we try to manage our health and fitness...
Personal Health/Business Health:
Increase Growth
(e.g., muscle mass, cardiac levels / additional volume)
Reduce Waste
(eg., excess fat / expense management, decrease non-valued processes)
Improve Overall Quality and Health
(e.g., cholesterol, vital signs / Clinical outcomes).
Enjoy your weekend.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Earth Day
As Earth Day approaches its 40th birthday, I am pleased to see our hospital celebrating our bi-annual Healthy Food & Good Wine with a focus on our local farmers and restaurants.
We also have an EarthDay planned at the hospital led by our Green Team champion Joyce M. along with her strong team members. The day will allow us to share the amazing things we are doing around our energey efficiencies as well as educate staff, physicians and visitors on additional ways we could each do our part. Though 'going green' seems to be a focus over the past several years, Earth Day allowed for increased awareness of our environment for the past 40 years.
I look forward to hearing about what new or creative things you and/or your company is doing for Earth Day.
We also have an EarthDay planned at the hospital led by our Green Team champion Joyce M. along with her strong team members. The day will allow us to share the amazing things we are doing around our energey efficiencies as well as educate staff, physicians and visitors on additional ways we could each do our part. Though 'going green' seems to be a focus over the past several years, Earth Day allowed for increased awareness of our environment for the past 40 years.
I look forward to hearing about what new or creative things you and/or your company is doing for Earth Day.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Website Facelift
I hope you have noticed our updated website look and feel (at left). We are also in the process of enhancing the design and functionality over the next six months.
We look forward to hearing from you on what changes you would like to see.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Associate Leaders are our Key Priorities
Yesterday I had a chance to meet with our new associates during their general orientation and last week, I met with associates for our second Breakfast Club meeting.
Both discussions reminded me of the new and existing leadership characteristics we need – this includes leaders in management and non-management positions.
As we see the changes take place through Healthcare Reform, we will continue to employ those with most, if not all, of the following qualities:
-Accountable with an ownership mentality
-An understanding of the expectations of our organization and their role in helping to achieve our goals
-Process-oriented
-Compassionate
-Service-oriented
Healthcare will continue to be challenging to manage. We need to ensure we work with people who are comfortable in advancing an organization where answers are not always readily available. I have a strong confidence level we will continue to flourish with the strength and fortitude of our leaders.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Both discussions reminded me of the new and existing leadership characteristics we need – this includes leaders in management and non-management positions.
As we see the changes take place through Healthcare Reform, we will continue to employ those with most, if not all, of the following qualities:
-Accountable with an ownership mentality
-An understanding of the expectations of our organization and their role in helping to achieve our goals
-Process-oriented
-Compassionate
-Service-oriented
Healthcare will continue to be challenging to manage. We need to ensure we work with people who are comfortable in advancing an organization where answers are not always readily available. I have a strong confidence level we will continue to flourish with the strength and fortitude of our leaders.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Fool's Day
So did any of you have a chance to check out google today? Yes, it was renamed Topeka! This was the story on Google...
We didn’t reach this decision lightly; after all, we had a fair amount of brand equity tied up in our old name. But the more we surfed around (the former) Topeka’s municipal website, the more kinship we felt with this fine city at the edge of the Great Plains.
In fact,Topeka Google Mayor Bill Bunten expressed it best: “Don’t be fooled. Even Google recognizes that all roads lead to Kansas, not just yellow brick ones...
A different kind of company name
4/01/2010 12:01:00 AM
Early last month the mayor of Topeka, Kansas stunned the world by announcing that his city was changing its name to Google. We’ve been wondering ever since how best to honor that moving gesture. Today we are pleased to announce that as of 1AM (Central Daylight Time) April 1st, Google has officially changed our name to Topeka.
We didn’t reach this decision lightly; after all, we had a fair amount of brand equity tied up in our old name. But the more we surfed around (the former) Topeka’s municipal website, the more kinship we felt with this fine city at the edge of the Great Plains.
In fact,
___________________________
This morning I had another Breakfast meeting with staff from across different departments. We discussed things we could to to advance our organization. But first, we started with a few April Fools plans...one person discussed making cupcakes out of ground beef with mashed potatoes as 'frosting'. Another discussed plans to set her son's alarm one hour ahead to ensure he would wake up on time. Then, the third prank...someone shared from a prior period in her life when they boxed up a person's office and the boss then called the 'targeted individual' into his office. Needless to say, the person with a boxed up office did not enjoy that April Fool's joke.
So many of us are extremely busy all day long with little time for pranks. But April 1st is a traditional time of year...I look forward to hearing any of the pranks you pulled off today.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Our Community - Remembering Tony
Today was a very interesting day for me and quite a reflection of what community means. There were so many ways which community hit me today. Before I start, I'll let you know I checked out http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/community and it read:
com·mu·ni·ty
–noun, plural-ties.
1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
2. a locality inhabited by such a group.
3. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually prec. by the): the business community; the community of scholars.
4. a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe.
5. Ecclesiastical. a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule.
6. Ecology. an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area.
7. joint possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.: community of property.
8. similar character; agreement; identity: community of interests.
9. the community, the public; society: the needs of the community.
Well, for me community hit me the following ways today (not necessarily in this order):
- As a member
- As a leader
- As a visitor
- As an observer
- As an outsider
I started out this morning in a master's swim group where approximately 10-15 people meet and challenge each other and themselves in the pool. From there, I met with a few physicians who practice with St. Joseph Medical Center to share the continued direction of our organization as well as the priorities for their practice. And then began an hour long ride to Warrensburg, MO to attend the funeral of a friend's father, Harold G. Along the way, I noticed a dog on the side of the road who was sitting next to another dog who had clearly died recently. On the way back, I stopped by a local coffee/espresso hut called Go-Go Beans and had a great conversation about espresso and healthcare reform with the owner. I must say the conversation was more engaging and interesting as we both enjoyed our espresso. Once I arrived back at my hospital, I rounded for awhile. There were a lot of people talking about tomorrow's funeral of one of our incredible associates and friend, Tony S. I have included some pictures of what was hung throughout the facility for people to sign for Tony and his family. I have also included a few 'ICUs' shown on our intranet site which acknowledge the support associates have for one another and in this case Tony.
ICUs (I Celebrate You):
Your beautiful smile will be sorely missed. It was always such a ray of sunshine to meet you in the hall as you always had a big smile and a friendly hello. You were certainly loved by your co-workers here at St. Joseph. You were a dedicated worker that really lived our Mission and Values. Bless you and your family and may you rest in peace knowing that your children will be cared for with love. We will miss you!
Tony always had a smile, or something funny to tell me everytime I would pass him in the hallways. His smile and his character will greatly be missed. My prayers go out to his family, and may Tony R.I.P.
Tony Thanks for always willingly giving your help. Thanks for your gentleness with the patients. Thanks for your compassion. Thanks for the big smile. Thanks for your hello's. Thanks for your friendliness to all. Thanks for always making this place a little bit brighter just by showing up on the unit. I will miss you a lot. It has been a great pleasure working with you.
Tony was such a wonderful person. No matter what kind of day you were having when Tony was around you couldn't help but smile. Work will never be the same without him.
I first met Tony when I myself was new to this hospital. I remember having to transport a patient from the ICU to radiology for a test. Lucky me, Tony came to help me transport my patient. I had NO idea where radiology even was! I expressed that to Tony and he said 'stick with me kid and you'll be fine.' Truer words were never spoken! From then on Tony was my 'transport buddy' and whenever he came to the ICU to help me transport a patient I had both a sigh of relief and an instant smile because of his kind heart and compassionate nature. He will be missed tremendously
Laughter, love, live, and full of life with a smile. Family, kind-hearted and gentle voice is who you are. Your light will always shine and be remembered throughout SJMC. Sadly missed, rest in peace. Your family is in my prayers.
Everyday we strive to keep our sense of community in this 'always' changing environment, at the same time rebuilding our community when it feels torn apart.
I look forward to hearing from you.
com·mu·ni·ty
–noun, plural-ties.
1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
2. a locality inhabited by such a group.
3. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually prec. by the): the business community; the community of scholars.
4. a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe.
5. Ecclesiastical. a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule.
6. Ecology. an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area.
7. joint possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.: community of property.
8. similar character; agreement; identity: community of interests.
9. the community, the public; society: the needs of the community.
Well, for me community hit me the following ways today (not necessarily in this order):
- As a member
- As a leader
- As a visitor
- As an observer
- As an outsider
I started out this morning in a master's swim group where approximately 10-15 people meet and challenge each other and themselves in the pool. From there, I met with a few physicians who practice with St. Joseph Medical Center to share the continued direction of our organization as well as the priorities for their practice. And then began an hour long ride to Warrensburg, MO to attend the funeral of a friend's father, Harold G. Along the way, I noticed a dog on the side of the road who was sitting next to another dog who had clearly died recently. On the way back, I stopped by a local coffee/espresso hut called Go-Go Beans and had a great conversation about espresso and healthcare reform with the owner. I must say the conversation was more engaging and interesting as we both enjoyed our espresso. Once I arrived back at my hospital, I rounded for awhile. There were a lot of people talking about tomorrow's funeral of one of our incredible associates and friend, Tony S. I have included some pictures of what was hung throughout the facility for people to sign for Tony and his family. I have also included a few 'ICUs' shown on our intranet site which acknowledge the support associates have for one another and in this case Tony.
ICUs (I Celebrate You):
Your beautiful smile will be sorely missed. It was always such a ray of sunshine to meet you in the hall as you always had a big smile and a friendly hello. You were certainly loved by your co-workers here at St. Joseph. You were a dedicated worker that really lived our Mission and Values. Bless you and your family and may you rest in peace knowing that your children will be cared for with love. We will miss you!
Tony always had a smile, or something funny to tell me everytime I would pass him in the hallways. His smile and his character will greatly be missed. My prayers go out to his family, and may Tony R.I.P.
Tony Thanks for always willingly giving your help. Thanks for your gentleness with the patients. Thanks for your compassion. Thanks for the big smile. Thanks for your hello's. Thanks for your friendliness to all. Thanks for always making this place a little bit brighter just by showing up on the unit. I will miss you a lot. It has been a great pleasure working with you.
Tony was such a wonderful person. No matter what kind of day you were having when Tony was around you couldn't help but smile. Work will never be the same without him.
I first met Tony when I myself was new to this hospital. I remember having to transport a patient from the ICU to radiology for a test. Lucky me, Tony came to help me transport my patient. I had NO idea where radiology even was! I expressed that to Tony and he said 'stick with me kid and you'll be fine.' Truer words were never spoken! From then on Tony was my 'transport buddy' and whenever he came to the ICU to help me transport a patient I had both a sigh of relief and an instant smile because of his kind heart and compassionate nature. He will be missed tremendously
Laughter, love, live, and full of life with a smile. Family, kind-hearted and gentle voice is who you are. Your light will always shine and be remembered throughout SJMC. Sadly missed, rest in peace. Your family is in my prayers.
Everyday we strive to keep our sense of community in this 'always' changing environment, at the same time rebuilding our community when it feels torn apart.I look forward to hearing from you.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Your Undivided Attention, Please
Last week, our executive team spent 1 1/2 days together (we have several new members) to discuss ways we could assist each others' efforts and the overall performance of our organization. While most of us are probably not big fans of retreats, it was one which we walked away and all had a very good experience. We had a chance to work with Mark from LeadQuest. Some of the key things we discussed were based on Mark's 10 principles of Personal Leadership.
The list sticks with the basics. Many of us know them and many of us struggle with the consistency of enrolling all 10 principles. One of my top focus areas was something I shared in my blog a few weeks back when I served as a panelist on social media...be in the moment (the 1st principle).
Something I really enjoyed seeing...staying in the moment for each activity actually relaxed me and the others. One interesting challenge is to stay engaged on an activity for 15 minutes, 30 or even the full hour. Not easy at all. Now it begs the question, when many of us (that includes me) are not big fans of long meetings day after day, why do we keep having the same meeting format? It is actually difficult for people to stay fully engaged for a one hour discussion without checking their watch, emails, etc.
So this week, I would like to hear your feedback on ways you stay in the moment and ways you keep those meeting times down to address what you set out to accomplish.
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