October 2002- The membership of the Leadership Board is stable. They spent time together - all together- for the first time in mid October. They are busy people with many demands on their time because of each organizations and individual's needs and challenges. Nonetheless, they come together to form what I hope will be an exceptional partnership. A partnership that exists because the job of healthcare transformation cannot be done alone- it can only be done together by all parts of the system coming together with patients to make a unbelievable difference..
Another exceptional partnership is being created- between Clinical Care Specialists and patients. They are listening and connecting with care teams in new ways. Exploring how the partnerships will grow in group visits as well as 1:1 is being explored. Defining these new roles and supporting each patient to explore what it means to be "activated" in a system not quite ready has been a learning experience.
The pilot clinics are building on their existing partnerships in the work environment and expanding the team to include process facilitators and a team specialist. The common thread across the 5 sites is the shared grant with its opportunities and accountabilities. We are learning from these dedicated professional what their capacity is for adding new innovative approaches to their routines...because despite our collective will to move toward the 21st century's new rules - we are surrounded by the old system and its demands. If we are to sustain this effort and spread it, we have to be humane and reasonable with the pacing of transformation. By honoring what we have learned in this 4 months, we can move forward to tap into our shared hope that we will create a better furture for patients, families and the healthcare workforce.
