There is a saying, "My Brain is too full." I think Gary Larson even has a cartoon with that theme. These days both my brain and calendar are too full. After 8 months implementing Pursuing Perfection- The Reality, I have had many learning moments. Capturing them on paper often requires some reflective quiet time- something in short supply. However, I will jot down a few soundbites for now...each one worthy of its own weblog...but those musings will be for another time....
- Living in another community [at least on the weekends], helps me detach from the decisions made in Bellingham. I can be objective in discussions about the pro/cons. I respect that each organization has to live with the decisions made. I am better able to keep the patient perspective in mind and bring it to bear during discussions.
- Five weeks away from home is too long for me...I notice I become more intense [hard to believe] and the edge confuses/muddies communication - raising questions about intent...Creating a balance between home and work is important to the project as well as for me personally.
- Managing staff and managing this project are two distinct jobs and I am doing both. It has challenged me in many positive ways. Unfortunately, juggling both has caused a few balls to drop...I believe the P2 staff have shown an immense amount of patience and perserverance with me during this learning. I hope I have shown them the same level of regard and graciousness. They are juggling the pressure of the world and the pilot sites...supporting them through immense changes....As individuals they are resourceful, empathetic and creative...behind the scenesdoing what is a somewhat thankless series of tasks......ask them what it really takes...they know the ups and downs of the creative process...unsung heroes yet not forgotten...this project and its accomplishments would not be possible without them
- Despite the positive acclaim we are receiving outside the community for our patient-centered approach, we fall short of what is needed to sustain a patient-centered system. No one organization has embedded the infrastructure to build it into the fabric of all they do...many are experiencing the value and an increased awareness of its importance. As a result, the staff of P2 are spending effort to continually create these opportunties to link patients/organizations. It is critical work, yet something we underestimated in our planning. It is not getting the attention it deserves...and we are aware of the gap...and living between perfection and reality is difficult at times.
- Our website: www.patientpowered.org with its education and resource information and leading to the secured portal which holds the secured web-based electronic shared care plan is a beauty to behold. It has been birthed by the dedicated efforts of patients, P2 staff and others. So we have built it...will they come? If the they is patients...resoundingly YES..they will come and help us make it even better through their feedback, involvement and insight. If the they is busy healthcare professionals...doctors, staff etc...in the short term they will struggle...because the way the work is currently organized make this tool "more work in the short term". In the long-term, YES they will come and find it immensely valuable...it is just there is a chasm between now and FUTURE. Fortunately, we have 20 healthcare support staff in training at the community college who have volunteered to help create a bridge between now and future...a resource to help us in the transition...because they care...
- Patient outcomes...are they improved? 8 months later...we have more on registries but outcomes look about the same...why? Why is because we are not doing two projects....we are changing healthcare through transformation and piloting all the changes with two patient populations....that is much harder to do...its building a foundation...not pretty but solid so that as we build the new system...it has something strong to build upon....antedoctal stories and patient experiences say we are on the right track...the charts going to IHI just don't show it yet....
