Big Projects Keep On Coming

It is summer and in addition to the unending heat, we also continue to have unending work (which is a great thing for job security).  Some of the big projects that are keeping me busy include continued work on our make medicine better branding strategy.  We are very fortunate to have deep talent in the department and a number of team members have stepped up and are developing plans that will prepare us for the next phases of the strategy.  It is helpful to have fresh eyes looking at concepts and images and words.  However, for truth in advertising, must admit that I do continue to love the strategy.  As I am writing this, I am preparing to attend an evening meeting of the North Side Access to Health Coalition.  This group formed almost three years ago (time does fly), had about a year long hiatus and is back working to implement many of the ideas that were generated in the study of barriers and challenges for some City residents in accessing health services.  Another significant project entails new requirements from the federal government with respect to community benefit.  Over the past three years, we established a really good system for tracking and reporting the great work done by our hospitals and departments in the communities where we have a presence.  The government has said that is good, but now they are requiring all non-profit hospitals to undertake a community health needs assessment and tie the programs we deliver to the identified needs in the community.  This is a major undertaking, but again, team members have stepped up to the plate and are working to make us smart about how to do this work ahead of the deadlines.  Washington, DC issues abound and require development of easy to understand policy papers and recommendations for a number of key audiences -- often without a lot of advance notice.  It is however important (and satisfying) work and keeps me connected to my old urban planning and government roots.  Working with several of our hospitals on major construction projects and being the sign czarina (thanks to all who help with this task) have kept me hopping this summer.  I also spend a good deal of time thinking about how I can be a better leader for the team and how we as a team can be of better value to BJC.  I write out ideas and some of them actually end up getting implemented.  It's a useful way to not lose good ideas (and to discard bad ones that I thought were good when they first popped into my head).  What do you do with the ideas you have?