In Pursuit of Perfection, we are looking for patient volunteers to provide us with input and share their experiential life stories of healthcare through their eyes. I started my phone interviewing process and this is one patient's unfortunate story . She was a kind, gentle, soft-spoken elderly woman trying to navigate her way through a very complex health-care system.
I asked the question " Why are you interested in being involved as a patient volunteer?" She replied without any hesitation and stated " I was just hospitalized in June because my kidneys stopped working. I was on my diabetes medicine for the past 10 years and it was too much, too long. This medication did not work with my heart medications. You know, it is very hard as a patient to keep track of my medications. Health-care for Diabetics in Whatcom County needs to be improved, I almost died! "
I completed my interview and thanked her very much for her time and willingness to assist me. I sat motionless for a moment as I was struck to the heart by her comments. I quickly regrouped and became highly motivated and committed to do whatever I could to improve Healthcare in Whatcom County to prevent this scenario for other patients.
I began to think of the endless possibilities;
IMAGINE if we had a current shared common medication list among Clinicians in Whatcom County.
IMAGINE if by collaborative communication between independent clinical practices in Whatcom County we could radically affect the outcomes of our mutual patients.
IMAGINE if we invited patient's to our staff meetings , to get their feed-back how we are really doing and if we are meeting their needs in Whatcom County.
IMAGINE THE CHANGES
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
IMAGINE THE DIFFERENCE WE COULD MAKE
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". Margaret Mead
Well, I have just completed my sixth week as a Process Facilitator for Pursuing Perfection Project in Whatcom County. It has been an inspirational experience! I have had the privilege to work with awesome people on the project team as well as in the pilot sites. One of the promises made to our patient's was to provide safe, effective, evidence-based care with a single medication list for all Health-care providers to share. This one patient's voice is why this project is so important and the opportunity we have to positively impact the Health-care Delivery System in Whatcom County.
