A Few Thoughts

When Bad Things Happen

2012-01-30T09:38:00.000-08:00

It is an unfortunate fact of life that bad things happen. Not only do they happen to people, but they happen to and at organizations, companies, schools, hospitals, parks, government buildings and the list goes on. I was struck by the response of an East Coast college this weekend, when a technology supported test-run led to a number of students being erroneously told they had gained that most valued early admission. While the actual number of students impacted was not a huge number, for every student impacted it was a huge deal. The college has responded with an apology for the error and offered students the opportunity to talk with a real person if they so chose.
When bad things happen, it is critical to remember that for the person or persons it is happening to, it is a not an abstract occurrence, but very real. It is important not to use words like 'only, minor, or insignificant' that negate the very real hurt, harm, sadness or unhappiness that those impacted are experiencing. We should try to first put ourselves in the place of the person or persons who are going through the experience, reflect on how we would like to be treated and to the best of our ability, craft our messages accordingly.
A few years ago, my then 15 year old son and I were in an airport kinda people watching when he asked me how it felt to be part of 'just the background' in the lives of people walking by. His question has stuck with me for the past 8 years, is quite humbling and helps to inform how I approach communications "work." Having a profound respect for those for whom I am "just background" is important, especially when it comes to having to share why something 'bad' has happened.

Tag Lines

2012-01-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

Isn't it interesting how exhausting finding the right few words to serve as a tag line or positioning statement can be? Perhaps it is so hard because such statements must be memorable, pithy (an old word), long lasting (meaning cannot be too contemporary or too throwback) and have to be embraced (and sometimes approved) by lots and lots of internal audiences. I found myself with a little bit of time on my hands and decided to take a trip through the neighborhood of taglines for direct to consumer companies, business to business corporations, non-profit agencies and of course, other health care organizations. I came away from my journey with two thoughts:
1. Getting it just right is really, really hard
2. When it is just right, it "sticks" immediately
While it would probably be inappropriate for me to share the ones that 'stuck' for me immediately, I will share their attributes. First and foremost, they were simple. No big, fancy words or 'industry-insider' language that I needed to know. Second, there was a connection not only with my brain, but with my heart. The ones that really connected with me, engendered an inaudible "Ahhhh." Third, they were believeable. Since I was taking the journey, I only went to companies or organizations that I knew something about. I must say, I did read some that made me go "Really?" which means they did not immediately pass the believable test. Finally, they transcended being just "catchy, right now." I could see the words being used in the distant past, present and far into the future.
Because 'words' are an important part of what I do, these kinds of exercises are fun for me. Unfortunately, this kind of fun is not shared by anyone who lives (or has lived) in my house, so I am glad I have this forum to share my thoughts with others who get a kick out of words! Happy 2012.
J

Ask, when you want to know

2011-12-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, we welcomed another marketing and communications team to the 'family.' While the reasons and rationale for making the reporting relationship change were clear to those making the decision, I never want to assume that reasons and rationale are clear to everyone. So, instead of assuming, we tried to make sure we shared the reasons in an up close and personal manner with all involved -- giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions. This process reminded me that we need to make sure that everyone knows the 'question-asking opportunity door' is never closed. Whether it is a big change, a small change or something that makes you go "I wonder....", please ask. I commit to answering -- whether the answer is easy for me to give immediately, falls into the bucket of "Let me find out" or into that even more difficult bucket of "I know, but can't share the information with you at this time."
As a working leader of what is now a pretty large organization, 'open time' to have an open door policy is sometimes difficult to manage. I am not whining -- we all work really hard and have a lot of pushes and pulls on our time. All of us juggle a lot of projects with numerous demands from clients -- me included. Because of this juggling act, finding the time to ask about things you might be wondering is often difficult to find. And, sometimes getting the answer (when the question is asked of me) might take longer than I hope. BUT, getting an answer back to you shouldn't take forever. If it seems like it is taking forever, please re-ask -- especially if the questions was asked via e-mail (pc gremlins invade at times) or face-to-face while in a meeting on another topic (aging brain overload invades at times). I want you to have the answers you seek. First, because if you are wondering something, it is quite possible other team members are wondering as well. And, second because once you have the answer, you don't have to wonder anymore and can use that brain space for other stuff!
Because it is December 16, this may be my last blogged thought of the 2011, so I want to wish everyone a wonderful season of whatever holiday you celebrate (Festivus anyone?) and a safe and peaceful New Year. I feel very fortunate to work for BJC which allows me to work with all of you.

11-11-11 Thanks

2011-11-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

It was great to have so many join the festivities on the afternoon of 11-11-11. Pin-Up Bowl proved to be a great reminder of why we all keep our day jobs. Congratulations to the following staff members who had some pretty incredible scores. Check the mail in the coming days for a small token of congratulations.
Individual High Score -- Jason Vander Weele with a whooping 136
Individual Low Score -- Patty Johnson with a whooping 55
Highest Team Average -- Patt Christie, Emily Barklage & Bill Bergholtz with a whooping 105.3
Coolest Individual Scores -- Valerie Hoven, Steve Klutho (and me!) with a whooping 111(so fitting for the day).
It seemed that a good time was had by all (whether bowling, eating, talking or observing) who attended and I am hopeful that those who were not able to attend enjoyed Jeans Day.
J

Getting Ready for Next Steps

2011-10-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our branding consultant participated in a roundtable with Corporate Communications and Marketing staff members who accepted the open invitiation to come and spend an hour and a half discussing the branding strategy we have been executing since late 2009 (time flies). We talked about the good, the challenging and the opportunities that are still there to tell our story more effectively, more consistently and more impactfully (I like threes).
This session was important because sometimes when you are very close to something, you can't always be objective when doing an evaluation. For most parents (unless you are the author and subject of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother -- actually am reading and loving that book), being truly objective about your offspring is difficult. In that same way, I confess to sometimes being a bit like an overprotective parent when it comes to our branding strategy. Also, when you are very close to something, you tend to think that everyone is paying as much attention to all the nuances as you, when really the focus is generally on the big things. Certainly, there are things I know we should change to make our branding staregy even more valuable, but as we all know, change is hard. So instead, I think of our strategy as evolving and being ever more improved. Monday's session was chock full of very good input that will help that evolution become reality. There are some 'big' things I know will remain the same -- things that have helped to distance us from others and helped the message to resonate. Of course, I can't say just WHAT those things are since this is social media and therefore a site that can be read by anybody. But, there are a number of changes we will make based on the input from team members and others.
One of the things I really enjoyed about yesterday's session was the willingness of everyone there to be open and constructively critical, bringing expertise from their specific areas as well as their roles as consumers of information. By sharing their thoughts, they will be helping to shape the next phase of our branding strategy. I hope it was fun for them and I also hope that they will see their recommendations reflected. I make this same offer to others on the team who perhaps had conflicts or other obligations that kept them from attending yesterday. Please shoot me an e-mail and share your thoughts about our branding strategy and how you believe it can be improved. As professionals and as consumers of information, I am sure you have great ideas to share.
And, it would be wrong of me not to mention a staff member who is getting ready for her next steps. Today officially marks Kathleen's last day with our team. I know we all wish her the best and are ever grateful to her for the role she has played in helping to strengthen the BJC brand. Don't know if she is a reader of this BLOG, but if she is -- "Another hearty round of applause for all you have done."
J

Technology Keeps You on the Run

2011-09-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today, we shared news of the realignment of one of BJC's marketing and communications functions. I realized as I was running to ensure that as many people as possible heard the news face to face, just how difficult that is now with ease of information sharing. One of the long-held tenents of corporate and employee communications has been to try to ensure that employees heard important news directly from the company/organization before seeing or hearing it on the news. Given online reporting, that is almost an impossible tenent to achieve. Newsfeeds, tweets, blogs, facebook postings, newspaper websites, microsites and the like give instantaneous access to information. I have had to get used to the fact that when speaking at conferences, what is said is likely to be paraphrased, tweeted and posted in a matter of nano-seconds. Tongue in cheek comments that are obviously humorous when delivered in person can take on a twisted meaning when read out of context.
So, last night I fretted a bit that some of the messages I shared in person with the marketing & communications team members, might not translate as well in tweet-dom. I am very excited about the change and looking forward to working more closely with the team. But, as I have shared before, change is always a bit disconcerting, so I would be less than honest if I did not 'fess up to some nervousness. I would also be less than human.
But, back to technology. Last week, we were fortunate to have guest speakers at our monthly Management Council meeting. They were invited to help us think strategically about mobile apps and applying them in health care. While I was at first thinking a bit too narrowly with a marketing hat on, I quickly realized that the technology could have perhaps even more value-added benefits outside of marketing. Of course, this was after I confused a mobile website with a mobile application -- so much to learn. Like many, I am excited about the tools that can help us all be better communicators. And, like many, I want to make sure we are thinking through the "whys" as well as the "hows" as we take advantage of these tools. Just as I was literally running yesterday to make sure that I stayed ahead of potential tweets, I know that staying on top of technology that will help us do a better job will require more skill than just running in heels.
J

Catching Up

2011-08-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

Am again shocked at how quickly time passes. How could it have been July 19th since my last post? Between all the real work that consumes a day, getting the adults (who used to be my little ones) settled back in their various locales after the summer and preparing for lots of meetings and presentations, posting just keeps getting pushed further and further back.
While this was a very busy summer, it was also a fulfilling one. The talent in our expanded department continues to be recognized with formal awards and lovely notes that come from clients. We all seem to be pushing ourselves to do even more in these times of restricted resources and what is being produced continues to be top notch.
Over the last couple of days I have been consumed by postings from our head of Web Services who is keeping us apprised of a situation involving some of our websites. What has intrigued me is not only what has happened, but the technical language that is way over my head and explained in such a way that I can actually follow what is happening. Again, I am so thankful for the talent we have inhouse. Several of our team members never cease to amaze me with their expansive knowledge of the world of social media and how we can appropriately apply it to meet our goals. I remember the first time I saw a QR code in a magazine and wondered why the editor had not 'caught' the ink smudge. I've come a long way baby!
So, just a short note to say thanks to everyone for all you do -- from helping kids understand the importance of nutrition to helping older adults stay active and fit -- and everything in between,, you are an important and valued member of our organization.
J

Big Projects Keep On Coming

2011-07-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

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?

Purpose of staff meetings

2011-06-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

About 3 weeks ago, our team came together for our spring All-Staff Meeting. It was great that so many were able to attend and understandable that conflicts lead to some absences (including a personal conflict for me that caused me to have to miss the last 3 presentations). While I enjoy the opportunity to stand up and share, my favorite part of staff meetings (any staff meeting) is when I get to sit back and listen and learn. Being able to engage as a participant, rather than the facilitator is helpful to me. Many of you know that I don't believe in long meetings -- unless they truly are workshops with lots interaction among participants, give and take and executable 'to-dos' that result from the meeting.
I requested that everyone share some executable 'to-dos' with me following our staff meeting. And, so far I have received some very good input. It will be my failure if I don't put some of that input into practice and even worse if I don't share with you how I am putting the input into practice. The purpose of staff meetings is to provide us with the information we need to do our jobs better (I know, you're surprised I didn't say "make you-know-what better"). Sharing what is happening within our work groups, the department and BJC as a whole should help us be more effective at our jobs. The new Joint Commission requirements with respect to literacy that our guest speaker shared at the All Staff Meeting is an example of such helpful information. Those requirements will definitely have an impact on the work we do for our clients and there were lots of good recommendations shared by our team members with the speaker at the meeting.
The other important purpose of staff meetings is just setting aside time for teams to share, recharge and if necessary regroup. I believe work works better if we understand not only the How of getting something done, but the Why of getting something done. Often we are so focused on making sure the something gets done that we forget to share Why it needs to be done. As we enter a time of unprecedented uncertainty for health care providers, it will be even more important to share the Why. The CEO letter to all employees a couple of months ago was intended to help share some of the Why. The letter was well received by employees and there will be more coming. When we read BJC Today and visit bjcnet, we can get another glimpse of the Why. But, in our regular and special staff meetings and our 1:1s we must be intentional in incorporating the Why so that we can all have a clear understanding of our direction and what needs to be done to get us there. To me that is the real value of staff meetings.

A Great Time Had By All

2011-05-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

I love the month of May. It is when the warm weather we might have experienced in April is likely to stay. It marks an end to the very rainy season. More people start to venture outside for longer periods of time. And it is the beginning of graduation season. Graduations are wonderful events. They mark an end and a beginning. Whether the graduate being celebrated is earning a doctorate or a promotion from pre-school to "big" school, milestones have been conquered and new opportunities are beginning.
I just returned from my niece's graduation from a small university in Atlanta. The weather was picture perfect and the 200+ members of the graduating class were wearing smiles to beat the band. I enjoyed looking at proud mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses and extended family members who had come to wish the graduates well. In lieu of a single keynote speaker, there were short talks by the president of the class (he managed to be inspirational and hilarious and appreciative in a manner of 4 minutes) and the three persons (two academics and an elected official) who were being presented honorary degrees. As I was listening to the talks, I came face to face with my 'preconceived notions.' You see, when I saw the list of the honoraries, I made up in my mind which of the speakers was going to absolutely rock the house. I will tell you that each of the speakers rocked the house in their own way, however the speaker that 'moved' me the most was not the one I expected. Which then reminded me of something I share when I am conducting communications training -- we communicate long before we say a word. Based on what people have heard, read or learned about us, they likely have a preconceived notion. When I do communications training for high school students, I will often play music before I join them. I play something that is "their music" (I have to admit I like a lot of it) and the mood of the students is instantly changed. They sit up, lean forward and give me the benefit of the doubt. Even though I am 'old' to them, a preconceived notion has been dispelled.
Not all preconceived notions are bad. For instance, we look forward to the next movie from a favorite director, the latest song from a favorite artist, the next book from a favorite author. Unfortunately, however a lot of preconceived notions are not ones we would be comfortable admitting we have. In the workplace, there are sometimes preconceived notions that accompany job titles, offices, cubicles, parking spaces, and other trappings. We can sometimes ascribe characteristics to co-workers (which really is how I think of all of us) based on these trappings. Don't get me wrong, I know there are different roles in all organizations. But, they are just that 'different.' It takes everyone to make organizations work and I find it interesting that while most of us understand how 'important' the President or CEO is, we can forget that it is the front line worker that always needs to have a replacement to do his or her job when they leave for vacation. The CEO can leave for weeks and not have a replacement CEO called in to do his or her work. But, to be fair, if a CEO leaves for good, it takes longer to find his or her successor.
What preconceived notions do you have? As I sat in the car coming back from the graduation -- where a great time truly was had by all -- I started to think about other preconceived notions I have and to commit to trying to eliminate those that are not value-added. One of the preconceived notions that I will hold on to however, is the notion that we are all here to do our very best work. That one I don't want to lose.

Language, language

2011-04-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

I was reading a news magazine a few weeks ago and noticed that the use of formerly forbidden four letter words were included in two of the articles. These words were not included in quotations uttered by others, but used by the authors as part of their communication style. I had noticed that the use of less "bad" words had begun to make their way into articles and on non-cable television shows, but the "big and bad" four letter words I had only seen in print on the few occassions when I read Rolling Stone (once because Whitney Houston was on the cover and she was/is an alltime fave). What does it mean that curse words are now okay to be included in news magazines? Will we start to see these words in our daily newspapers? Will news anchors begin to pepper their banter with such words? Is it just because I am way on the other side of a certain age that I am bothered by this?
In thinking about why it bothered me to see this language used so carelessly (my opinion), I decided it was not that a child could have picked up the magazine and seen these curse words. Afterall, it would be the rare child who would be reading a news magazine. No, it was that it seemed insenstive to me as the reader. The authors were not my friends. We did not have a relationship that said it was okay to use that kind of language in my presence. Could not the writers have thought of a more intelligent way to express their thoughts.
As a person who communicates for a living, I am concered that writing in a news magazine would devolve to this level. While I understand that we live in a much more familiar society, I believe it is still necessary to demonstrate respect for others and when I read those articles, I felt a little disrespected. Is it just me or have others noticed previously taboo words making their way into public discourse?

When the News is Good

2011-03-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Today, we are celebrating that six BJC hospitals have been recognized in the newly established ranking of hospitals in metropolitan areas by U.S. News magazine. It has been a whirlwind two days so far (the 'embargoed' list was shared yesterday) as the mad scramble to get the word out ensued. It is fabulous when good news can be shared and the work of teams celebrated. Barnes-Jewish, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Christian Hospital, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Barnes-Jewish West County were among the 15 adult hospitals recognized, with St. Louis Children's Hospital being the only pediatric hospital in the area to make the list. Only hospitals in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more people were ranked. Absolutely a day of pride for all the hospital team members and for all of us who work to support our hospitals and service organizations.
It is funny that preparing for the unknown (yes, there were contigency communications in case the outcome of the list had been different) takes a lot of time and a different kind of energy. When the news turns out to be good, you heave a sigh of relief, but still have to spring into action. From notifying leadership to getting the CEO prepared and delivered for the morning news at 6:19 a.m. to sharing the news with employees, board members and the public, it is so good to have a team that can be relied on to spring with you.Thanks to everyone who has helped and is helping to share the good news.
I kind of marvel at the industry U.S. News has created for itself. The ability to capture the attention of the public with the compilation of a "Best of" list is pretty amazing. Perhaps it is because "Best of" is simple and easy to recognize. Most don't delve into the methodology that lands a hospital, university, city, school district, restaurant, department store or automobile on the "Best of" list. However, most tend to think a little more highly of the "fill in the blank" that makes a recognized "Best of" list.
So, we can all enjoy the glow that comes from having so many BJC hospitals listed and which I believe helps to validate our call to make medicine better. A fewshortthoughts because I am still Springing.

Rising Above the Noise

2011-02-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

No, not the din of the cheers of Green Bay Packer fans (and for the record, I didn't really care who won, just wanted to see a really good game -- which happened), but the noise that keeps us from doing our best. At the end of 2010, I seemed to be drowning in noise from all kinds of places and did not believe I was doing my best. I could tell because my patience (which I am not long on to begin with) had gotten very short, it took me a lot of drafts to get things just right and my interpersonal skills in most settings where I found myself were not at the place where I wanted them to be. Over the holidays, I made a commitment to try to rise above the noise. And, I am happy to report that for almost two whole months I have done much better than I did at the end of 2010.
I admit that it is work to rise above the noise. It is amazing how easy it is to just drift back into the old habits of seeing the glass as half empty. Everything from work budget issues to the toppling of governments can have us very dejected about the state of affairs. But, in these times I have found it best to focus on the things that are within my control. It doesn't mean that I bury my head in the sand (can you say CNN addicted?), but it does mean that I take in the 'news' (whether from around the world or down the hall), determine if I can have an impact, and respond accordingly.
I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that is focused on stability, that knows what it wants to be when it grows up and that tries to encourage the best work from all of us. Sometimes it is hard to remember that because of all the noise. But, it is what drew me to BJC over 7 years ago and what keeps me here. My hope is that when the noise of work gets too loud that we go back to the joy we felt when we received the call that said, "You got the job!"
Back to the din of cheers from the Super Bowl. While I loved the game, I admit I am also hooked on the commercials. My faves this year were two of the Bridgestone Tire ones -- the guy who mistakenly hit Reply to All and then drove like Mario Andretti (am I dating myself) to confiscate computers that received the message and the absolutely wonderful one with the beaver who remembered the driver who saved his life and returned the favor six months later. The little beaver claws doing a heart pound cracked me up. Did anyone have different favorites?

Leading from the Cheap Seats

2011-02-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

On one of my recent (very cold) early morning walks I got to thinking about all the Monday morning quarterbacking that has been taking place over the last few weeks. From criticism of play calling by coaches to questions on whether a certain Second City quarterback was really too hurt to play, I realized that there is nothing easier than providing commentary from the sidelines. And, being that I still had a few miles to go on my walk, I started to apply this finding to the workplace and wondered -- Am I leading from the cheap seats? Since I am not a designer or a newswriter or a videographer or a clinician or a child or older adult health/behavior expert, do I make sure I give those who do have those skillsets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their work? Do I offer praise as much as I offer suggestions (which can sometimes be perceived as criticism)? Are e-mails from me welcomed or do they make the recipient think "Now what?"
Of course, my hope is that neither I, nor any of the other leaders in our department, are leading from the cheap seats. And, if we are, I hope that you will tell us and even more importantly, that we will take it to heart and make necessary changes. What kind of changes? Being more attentive to the great work that is done and recognizing that work directly with the individual responsible and publicly with others (we tried to incorporate Shout Outs for the public recognition, but haven't seen one lately -- which may be my pc). It is also important that we take a breather before launching into Monday morning quarterbacking. Do we have all the facts? Is the tone of our question helpful or hurtful? Are we seeking to make the situation better or just ascribe blame? Those of you who know me well, are aware that the last thing I am ever interested in is who to blame when something has not gone as we had hoped. Instead, the goal is always to right the ship as quickly as possible and learn from the misstep. I can have that attitude because I am so confident in the members of our team. Which gets back to the original subject of my early morning walk. When you truly view yourself as part of a team, the reasons for the wins and the defeats are equally shared by all team members. Will be interesting to see how this concept plays out for the Packers and the Steelers this Sunday. I will be rooting for the ________________. How about you?
J

Save the Date

2011-01-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

Not only is November 11, 2011 Veteran's Day (thanks to all currently in uniform and to those who previously served our country as part of the military), but it is 11-11-11! From my last post, you know how I get excited about calendar numbers, so I am inviting everyone in Communications & Marketing to save that date (it is a Friday) to have lunch on me. More information will come as we near the date, but wanted you to get it on your calendars!
J

1-1-11

2011-01-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe I almost forgot to notice the date! I love all things related to calendar number patterns, so the New Year's date was a doozy. However, I was so busy having fun (not the work kind as in my last post, but the leisure kind that we all love) that I almost forgot to notice the pattern. I mean I knew it was January 1st and that it was now 2011, but I had not taken the time to appreciate the numbers.
Too often, we don't take time to appreciate the little things that can bring us joy. We are often so focused on the big things of life -- making a living, taking care of kids, taking care of parents, studying if we are back in school, planning the next event, vacation, trip to the doctor's office, etc -- that it is easy to miss the little things.
I NEVER make resolutions -- mostly cuz I know I won't keep them, but if I did, I would encourage me to take more time to enjoy life's little pleasures. Like the fact that there is sunshine today (January 4); that all of the flights I took over the holidays took off and landed on time; that I got to use my free pass at Zumba last night (and it kicked my rear since I missed my normal routine over the holidays); and that we have welcomed a new staff member to help us with makemedicinebetter. Okay, maybe the last one is not a little pleasure, but the fact that he, Kim and Sylvia just stopped by to say "Hi" is.
Since I did not get a lot of e-mails or posts (save one from Jason -- thanks, Jason) on how to put fun into work, I am going to make the offer again. I know that since we were approaching the holidays, there was much to be completed at work and likely much to be completed at home. But, I really am interested in your thoughts on how to incorporate fun and little pleasures into the work day.
So while you contemplate that, in the twitter/facebook way of sharing mundane (and sometimes inane) data about what one is doing, I am going to take a walk over to the Center for Advanced Medicine to pick up a prescription and take time along the way to enjoy that it is in the mid-30s and sunny. Truly a lovely little pleasure in the work day.
J

Beyond Wishing

2010-12-13T12:39:00.000-08:00

If you could have anything you wanted during this holiday season, what would it be? You don't have to answer, but I realize this is a much harder question than appears. For example, should one be global and ask for world peace? If not careful with the words, we could have world peace 'break out' now, only to have wars return in a week. How about an end to poverty, unemployment, illness, racism, sexism, etc? Better education? Better airlines? Warmer weather? Cooler weather? More fun at work? It becomes pretty obvious that what we might wish for has a lot to do with how we view things -- and sometimes that view is influenced by what is going on at the moment.
More fun at work? This thought has consumed me for the past few weeks. If I could have anything work-related, during this holiday season, it would be for more fun at work. Why? Because for me, the times that I view work as fun are the times when I truly feel I am clicking on all cylinders, making great progress, appropriately connecting with co-workers and getting things done! When those attributes are a part of my day, work does not feel like work, but like fun. It then does not matter how many evening meetings are part of the work day or how many times I have to reschedule a hair appointment to complete an assignment -- because it seems like fun. It is when those attributes are missing that work seems like, well work. And, even worse, it is when work feels like a chore.
Some have heard me say that I believe work needs to be enjoyable most of the time because it is where we spend the majority of our waking hours. When work is not enjoyable, other parts of your life can suffer. Have you ever had a really bad day at work impact the really great concert you had been looking forward to attending for months? While I am somewhat pollyanic, I do realize that not every working day can be sunshine and lollipops -- then it wouldn't be called work. But I do believe that the really good days have to outweigh the really bad days in order to ensure we are all working at the right place at the right time.
So, my work-related holiday wish, is that we can find the fun in work. Sometimes that fun is formal (like our recent scavenger hunt). However, for the fun to be sustainable and to be of benefit to our co-workers (and yes, they can tell when work is not fun for us) and our organization (so that we are doing our best work), that fun needs to be more ingrained in our regular work days. Rather than just wish, I would love to have suggestions/recommendations on how this can be accomplished in the part of the organization that I lead. I encourage you to share those suggestions either in this forum or by e-mailing me directly. Can't wait to hear from you.
J

Developing New Teams

2010-11-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, the members of our Communications, Marketing, Community Affairs, and Health Literacy teams took a journey to learn more about each other. While cloaked in disguise as a Scavenger Hunt, the real goal was to get to know team members that we don't work with on a day to day basis just a little better. It was one of the most oft-repeated goals from our last 1/2 day retreat and as we discussed how to make this happen in my Direct Report staff meetings, we decided that we could learn and have fun at the same time. And, judging by the photos (which are attached), there was definitely fun and by the comments I continue to receive there was definitely sharing and learning that took place within the teams and in the larger group as we gathered pre and post hunt.

While there were some good-natured challenges to some of the clues and locations, I did find that all of the participants seemed to appreciate the opportunity to do something that was a bit off the beaten path. Sometimes when we are developing new teams (and new teams get developed all the time -- just think of when a long-time staffer leaves or a newbie joins -- voila you have a new team), it is important to keep in mind that we don't all respond to things in the same way. For instance, I am very much a "big-picture, go-with-the-flow-kinda gal"who tends to talk a little too fast and is generally rushing on to the next big thing. This is sometimes a challenge for those who are wired to "need-details-to-know-what-is-desired." This was evident with the Scavenger Hunt. Barbara got a number of calls asking for 'more information' and she counseled that all would be made clear in due time. After our pre-Scavenger Hunt lunch, I observed those who got the clues, gathered their team and headed up and out. I observed those who gathered their team, found a corner and then mapped out each and every step. I observed those who gathered their team, headed to their parking lot and then talked strategy in the car. Not one of these methods was all right or all wrong. But, they were fun to observe.

I am glad that it was an enjoyable afternoon and I do hope that you will take even more time to get to know some of your new team members. I believe it will only make our overall team stronger.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.
J

To a Land Far Away

2010-10-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

In September, I joined 171 others on an RCGA (St. Louis' Chamber of Commerce) sponsored trip to China. It was a place that I have always wanted to go, but have never wanted to try to figure out on my own and the cost was always prohibitive. Because the Chinese government wants to encourage tourism and business development, they offered the 9 day trip (with airfare from LA, all hotels, meals, exhibits and tours at the four cities we would visit in China) for the very reasonable price of $1990.00. So, I scheduled ETO, raided my savings and signed up. And, am I ever glad I did. From climbing the Great Wall to visiting the Forbidden City to standing in Tianamen Square, it was a once in a lifetime experience. At Olympic Village, I saw the Bird's Nest that was so much more impressive in person than on television. Shanghai is like 12 New Yorks -- skyscrapers and colorful lights abound. Went to the World Expo in Beijing and was taken with the imagination that was so evident in many of the buildings.
What probably stuck with me most is how China is such a collaboration of cultures -- the new and the old, the developed and the undeveloped, the modern and the traditional often sit side by side. It is a visible depiction of the ying and the yang that is so much a part of their lives. We (we traveled in groups of 25 to 30) were honored to have lunch in the home of a family and learned much about what is different and what is the same within our cultures. The one child rule, non-western toilets, and land ownership are very different. A fierce belief in the power of education, hopes and dreams for the future, and the power of positive thinking are similar.
I would be less than truthful if I said I did not think about work and our department while I was there (heck, with technology I was never totally disconnected). I thought of how to incorporate a bit of ying and yang which is really all about balance. How do I help our department better balance the ever increasing demands for our services (it happens when you are good) with our capacity to deliver those services in a satisfying way? What things can we stop doing to make room for new things or to allow us to breathe a little easier and incorporate some time for thinking? I had a work-related meeting with a BJC Medical Group doc a couple of weeks ago and he shared that most of us don't have the ability to really relax -- to really turn off the stimulation and just be in a quiet place. The doctor shared that turning off for just ten minutes a day would do wonders for our health and our work productivity. In China, that is incorporated into their daily activities and no one has ever questioned the productivity of the Chinese. My other favorite observation in China -- in early evening on many street corners and in many parks you find singles and couples engaged in impromptu dancing. For those of you who know me well, you can imagine how envious I was. Maybe that is something that can be imported here.

A Special Trip

2010-10-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Some of you are aware that I just returned from China last week. While that was a great experience, it is not the special trip that is the subject of this post. Instead, the title refers to my trip to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital pharmacy late Saturday morning to pick up a prescription for Flint (my first and only husband). I was dressed in my usual Saturday morning attire of a baseball cap and walking duds since I had just completed my walking trek of the Forest Park bike trail (funny, how I still call it that even though there is a dedicated path for walkers/runners) and was looking none too wonderful. I planned to just rush in, get the prescription and rush back out -- hoping I would not run into anyone I knew. As I walked through the revolving doors I was met by the most awesome of sounds which I realized was the singing of warm-up scales. I continued walking and saw approximately 30 people (their backs to me and dressed almost as fancy as I was) singing in the lobby of the Center for Advanced Medicine. I walked a little slower because the beautiful sound (again, this was just scales) compelled me to listen. The sound wafted up to the third floor and everyone I passed had a hint of a smile on their faces. The staff working behind the pharmacy counter also seemed a bit more joyful (don't get me wrong, they are always helpful and professional, but there seemed to be something extra there on Saturday). I learned from one of the nurses who had accompanied a patient from outside of St. Louis to the pharmacy, that the group rehearsing was the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and they were going to perform on Sunday for patients and their families. The out-of-town patient shared how special he thought it was that the hospital would be so thoughtful as to have such an amazing group come in and entertain. Said he had heard Barnes-Jewish was special, but this was more than he expected.
I applaud the person or persons who came up with the idea of having the chorus come to sing and am so glad I was running an errand at just the right time. It was so neat to see patients, families and staff peering over the balcony to get a glimpse of those who were making such beautiful music -- even just in rehearsal. And, as I relunctantly left the building on Saturday, the words of "more than expected" uttered by the out of town patient echoed as music to my ears. "More than expected" is an apt reflection of what occurs when you take the world's best medicine and make it better.

Input

2010-09-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

How many ways are there to find out what people are really thinking, feeling, hoping, wanting? Especially when it comes to work -- the place where we spend most of our waking hours, the promise of a door being always open, welcoming calls or e-mails, and/or encouraging input is often shared easily, but not always as easy to execute. This week I was in Orlando speaking at a conference and had some downtime to think about the things I set out to do this year with respect to work and getting more input and acting on that input. Am pleased that we were able to have our All Employee Meeting earlier in the year and that we are acting on some of the input received -- though not as quickly as hoped for in all cases. However, I also had an epiphany while I was gone, that I have been thinking of input too narrowly and much too one way. So, I want to share some input with the teams that make up our department.
To the newest members of the department I offer the following. I marvel at the passion and energy displayed by the School Outreach and Development team in sharing their knowledge and expertise with students and educators. The mission driven Community Health team continues to meet the needs of internal and external clients helping to bring meaning to BJC's commitment to wellness. The OASIS team has reached more and more senior adults with innovative programs that not only engage, but that also allows these seasoned citizens to give back. From recognizing employees as health heroes to developing and executing healthy food choice pilots in our cafeterias to defining health literacy, the Health Literacy team has lead the way and those inside and outside of BJC have taken notice. I am so pleased to have welcomed these divisions into the family.
Expanding BJC's reach to underserved communities with welcomed and value-added services such as the thriving Healthy Mind Body Spirit initiative and the mobile health partnership with the Urban League, the Community Affairs teams continues to help bring our community benefit mission to life. And speaking of Community Benefit, the one-woman team (with a lot of collaborative help) responsible for collecting and verifying BJC's community benefit data does a great job of finding the numbers that has allowed us to annually report higher numbers.
When demand for your services grows and grows, it means you must be doing something right and this is what has occurred for the Creative Services team. They have produced outstanding design and graphic work for clients across BJC. Tackling the migration of all of BJC's websites to an outside vendor, while assisting clients with their web service needs has kept the Interactive Services team busy this year and they have met the challenges with professionalism and grace under pressure. Providing strategic guidance and outstanding support to clients has kept the Marketing team busy and like others, demand for their services has continued to grow. The Media Services team approaches their assignments with a client-centered approach that is appreciated and yields a product that is valued by the primary, secondary and tertiary clients. Twice a month, the BJC Today team delivers the one product (other than our paychecks) that unites all of us as BJC employees. The newspaper does a great job reflecting what is going on across our organization and is a 'good read.' And to the Communications team members who provide stratetic guidance, oversight and ideas on how we can all be better, I marvel at your talent and dedication.
I hope you all know that the work you do each and every day is appreciated and valued. It is through you that so much of the story of BJC gets told. So please accept this input as my heartfelt thanks. I also encourage you to get to know more about the work done by your colleagues. You will be as impressed as I am.

When you forget

2010-08-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

It's one of those things that you can be certain will happen with the passage of time -- Forgetting. I am sure that there are some of you reading this that are wondering "When is June going to get back to me with __________?" If it has been "more than a minute" (a phrase I picked up from one of my kids that has become a new fave), it is quite possible that I have forgotten. I define "more than a minute" as more than three days since the question or request came in. Be assured that if it has been more than a minute, you should feel very comfortable sending me another message inquiring as to whether or not I have looked at, read, reviewed, thought about or otherwise had any contact with your request. One of the other reasons I recommend this plan of action is that I am sometimes tormented by pc gremlins and not everything that is sent to me gets to me in a timely manner. You may think tormented is a strong word, but given our dependence on technology (and particularly those extensions of our fingers called the keyboard) not receiving e-mails truly does feel like torment!
Unfortunately, I can't lay all of my forgetting at the feet of the pc gremlins (do gremlins have feet?). Forgetting also comes with not only advancing age, but the fact that we all are juggling lots and lots of balls in the air. While this juggling is one of the things that makes life fun, it is also bound to lead to forgetting something. For example, I realize in my work day juggling, I have not had one on one lunch with any of the new staff members who have joined our group. I will be rectifying that soon. I also realize in my work day juggling that I owe a brief description on opportunities for staff to work on different projects. Again, it's on the way. Finally, I realize in my work day juggling that I have failed to reserve a car when I take the youngest daughter back to college next week. Okay, so that is not really related to work, but it is something that I need to not forget.
At a former place of employment, went to a seminar about a concept called Mindsweeping. It's where you take time each day to list all the stuff that is on your mind in no particular order. You then refer to that list a few times each day and cross off the things that you have done. It actually works and perhaps it is a tool that might be helpful once again. Of course, if I were writing that list at this very moment, the first thing I would write is Today is Friday the 13th -- which I almost forgot.

A New Look

2010-07-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

So, as I was preparing to update this BLOG, I was invited to try out a new design and look. Now, that opportunity was probably always there, but I had never noticed it as it was somewhat hidden among a number of options that had become just part of the background space for me. However, when the invitation was front and center (albeit as a pop-up) I was intrigued. Those of you who know me, are aware that all things technological are not my strong suit. But, I must admit I had fun trying different colors and styles (kinda like that other favorite past time of mine -- power shopping) and seeing what seemed like me. You can see the result and the way I would describe the new design is relatively simple, hopefully easy on the eye and kind of timeless.
It's the same way I view effective communications. There is such elegance in simplicity. Most of us learned a lot of really big words when we were in school -- most of which we don't ever use (or in my opinion even need to use). When it comes to getting your point across, the simpler the words used, the better -- especially when talking. Imagine having to have a dictionary (oops, my age is showing as now we can just download an app) available when having a conversation with a friend or co-worker? I mean really, how often have you used the words, "nescience, enigmatic or primordial" in a recent conversation? Looking up the meaning to the big word that was just used would interfere with that all important eye contact and might lead to drifting as you got involved in looking up the meanings of other words that came to mind or were offered as perhaps being of interest to you given the word you just looked up -- obviously in the app world.
Don't get me wrong, I know that it was important to know those big words at one time. But the purpose was actually to set us apart rather than bring us together (can you say ACT, SAT Verbal Sections?). Good communication does just the opposite -- it unites us and brings clarity and understanding. And, thus the simpler the better.
It's Friday at 5:11 p.m., I have run out of work steam and am wishing weekends were indesinent! Couldn't resist.
J

Looking for New Reads

2010-06-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

So, I just completed a book I found in my son's room as I was heading out of town and desperate for something other than work stuff to read on the plane. Was a book titled Disgrace written in the late 1990s by a South African born author, J M Coetzee. I often troll my now adult or semi-adult children's rooms for books when I don't have time to get to the bookstore or library. While required reading is no joy when it is required, the required books are generally really good when you are not required to write a paper after reading them. While I think I enjoyed Disgrace (it made me think, made me uncomfortable, and kept my interest), I am not sure it would roll off my tongue right away if someone asked me to recommend a book to them.
Which brings me to my question: Do you have a 'filter' for books you will recommend? For instance, I would recommend that everyone on our team read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Who Moved My Cheese? They are light, organizational-understanding type books that are somewhat humorous, but also quite insightful. I would also recommend those books to my three kids -- think it would help them as they prepare to enter the work world. Of course, I doubt that they would read them at this juncture of their lives (19, 22 and 26 and all still in some form or another of school). I have recommended them to my husband, but not to my mother. I have not recommended it to either of the women I walk with in the morning -- even though we sometimes talk books -- but different kinds of books.
Of course, on my shelves at work, I have all the 'right' business/organizational reads -- Built to Last, The 8th Habit, Health Care Trends, Every Business is a Growth Business. Would I recommend them to most people? Not so much.
A book I would recommend and have recommended to everyone is The Giver -- but you must have hankies (boy, am I old or what) handy. I learned so much from that story about what really matters and what is just memorex. Another is the book I read right before Disgrace, which is Game Change about the 2008 presidential campaign. Amazed at how much information people are willing to share 'off the record' and how colorful the language of all politicians. Back to the filters -- mine are generally based on what I know about the person or persons to whom I am recommending a book; if they are squeamish about language or situations; and if I think I will ever see or talk with them again. What filters do you use? And, what books would you recommend to me or other co-workers? I really am looking for a few more good reads this summer and want to save my kids' rooms for when I am absolutely desperate.

What do polls tell us?

2010-06-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

In the most recent poll on www.makemedicinebetter.org, visitors are asked how satisfied they are with their hospital. Unfortunately, the choice with the highest number of 'votes' is "Very Dissatisfied." Trying to be optimistic, I added the two "Very Satisfieds" and "Somewhat Satisfieds" together, but still did not beat the "Very Dissatisfied" and "Somewhat Dissatisfied" totals -- which I am sure Angela C. would tell me is the only way to make the comparison statiscally valid. So, after being disheartened, I decided it was necessary to do what we say this site is intended to help us do -- Learn how to make medicine better.
So, I started to do a mindsweep of some of the things that dissatisfy me when I go to any hospital whether as a patient (fortunately few and far between and only at BJC facilities) or as a visitor (to lots of hospitals, since I obviously have not done a good enough job convincing my friends that the only place to go for care is a BJC facility). And, the number one dissatisfier for me is that I truly don't want to be there. If I am a patient, I don't want to be sick. If I am a visitor, I don't want my loved one to be sick. So, I start off with the glass less than half full.
Coming in a close second, is the lack of control I have over my environs and my environment. Generally, as a patient someone else is deciding what I wear (which for those of you who know me, know that matters a lot), when I eat (again, for those who know me....) and when I sleep. As a visitor, the environment makes me uncomfortable -- should I whisper, can I bring in my loved ones favorite food, is my visit too short, too long, should I leave the room when the nurse comes in, when the doctor comes in, when the dinner tray comes in? Again, feeling totally out of control.
At third is the lack of privacy. Again, lots of people get to come in and our of "my" room whether the door is closed or not.
Now, I admit that the last time I was a hospital patient was many years ago, but I have been a visitor and while some of these things have changed (for instance you can now bring your own jammies and at some hospitals order your food when you want it), a lot of what dissatisfies me is out of the hospital's control. But, what is within our control or perceived control, we should try to address. Poll results are a snapshot and can given us an indication of potential ways to spend our time and energy to, in the case of BJC, make medicine better.

Value

2010-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

For a few days, potential visitors were not able to access this site. It was very distressing as I had just posted on April 30 and could not believe that technology, rather than my lack of a fresh post, was keeping people from reading a few of my thoughts. Well, the problem was fixed and access to the site restored. However, I noticed on my pc that when I got to the site, the post that was showing was one from the spring of 2009. Now, I know I don't post as frequently as I had planned, but even I am not that bad.
So, here is a new post -- just slightly more than a couple of weeks since my last one. I am sitting in the office having just completed reading the latest issue of BJC Today. I always learn something that I did not know and am frequently left with that gooey heart feeling which is how I think pride feels. This issue evoked a lot of heart gooey-ness. I also caught up on a bunch of e-mails, hard mail and other 'stuff of work' that left me with a swelled heart. From BJC receiving a new honor (I can't tell you what it is now, but you will learn soon) to being interviewed about why we developed makemedicinebetter to being asked "What does BJC think about ..............", it is clear that we work for an organization that is well thought of by many in the public. It is important to realize that "organizations" don't create good will -- employees of organizations do! It is the employees of BJC who are 100% responsible for the positive reputation we have. I remember when I worked for a publicly-traded company, there was a lot of emphasis on the importance of "the numbers." What I would share is that "numbers don't make themselves, employees make the numbers." And, employees who know (notice I didn't say "believe") they are valued make great numbers.
I hope you know that you are valued. Without your hard work and dedication, BJC Today would have a lot of blank pages and the phone calls and e-mails asking "What does BJC think about ....." would cease.

A NonTypical Work Week

2010-04-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Started with a 7:00 a.m. presentation on Monday morning to a committee of the Board of Directors followed by a 1:00 p.m. presentation that same day to another committee of the Board. Don't know about you, but when I have to make big presentations, I tend to be a bit anxious and it makes me want to do lots of things to take my mind off the upcoming presentation. So, what I did was to read some of the evaluations from our department's Friday retreat. Overall, most staff members felt the time was value added, but you know how we are -- I zeroed in on those "other" comments, that were not so favorable. Not because I am a glutton for punishment, but because I think it is one of the best ways to get better. Don't get me wrong, there are some "other" comments that I know I can't do anything about (or even learn anything from that would lead to improvement). However, there is no reason to ask for evaluations if you are not going to do anything about the feedback. I look forward to contemplating and then acting on many of the things that were shared.
So, back to the work week. On Wednesday, participated in the culminating actitvity of a local university's MBA class Capstone Project -- BJC was the topic of the semester long class. I, along with several colleagues, listened to presentations from 8 teams with recommendations on what BJC should do with respect to a certain area. I wondered if the members of the team were also anxious -- especially since the BJC CEO was among the panelists listening and evaluating the presentations.
The last two days of the week found me at the Media Services Studio as the next round of branding commercials were shot We truly have a lot of talent at BJC and I look forward to seeing the finished product. These kinds of non-typical work weeks only work because of a great team that continues to get the work done when I am underground. So, a really big thank you to everyone for doing what they do so well!

The Lost March

2010-04-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it finally happened that I let a month go by without doing a post. I am so ashamed and disappointed in myself that I almost decided to cease and desist (some of you thought I probably had made that decision) all postings. Really, it is not that I don't want to post, it is just that all kinds of things keep interupting my best laid plans. For example, my computer has decided to "freeze" for absolutely no reason at all for 10 to 15 minutes at a time all day today. It is beyond annoying. And then there was a crazed travel schedule in March -- albeit most of it was for fun, but it still took a toll on my ability to post. So, I am asking for forgiveness and hoping if any of the readers of this BLOG are still out there, to give me another chance.
During my hiatus, several significant things happened.
1. We introduced the next phase of the branding strategy with print ads and new television ads. If you have seen them, let me know what you think -- especially about the ads people are calling the "Beep, beeps."
2. Our president went to visit The president.
3. Visits to makemedicinebetter continued to rise and have now exceeded 20,000.
4. Spring sprung.
5. Health care reform passed.
6. My youngest child turned 19 (thus one of my absences in March, as I headed to Miami to visit her).
7. Staying with the personal, I ski'd for the first time ever (actually loved it).
8. Several of our departments made the move to the BJC Learning Institute.
9. SLCH & BJH went tobacco free and BJC announced corporate locations would also become tobacco free. (Remember there is tobacco cessation support provided to any and all employees).
10. And, BJC continued investing in employees, facilities and services to the community (which is not a new thing, but given the economy is still significant).
Thanks again for giving me another chance and my goal is to definitely do better in the future -- hard to do worse. (And, if anyone knows what the Label for this post means, you will win a prize).
J

The twos that can make all the difference

2010-02-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

So last week, Flint and I drove to Atlanta for our last Parents' Weekend for our graduating son. I was catching up on all the articles that I try to keep up on, but are impossible during the work week (and listening to cool music from Flint's ipod and his satellite radio). All was lovely and well as we traveled east then south, until we got to Chattanooga and then it happened --- SNOW. Now, it was only those very light flurries that we used to not even notice in St. Louis (until some news editor decided they could get a lot more viewers by making the weather the news) and that should not have caused any travel delays. And, I give the good people of Tennessee credit -- we were able to drive pretty much the speed limit all along the interstates. Even when we entered Georgia things were fine, fine that is until we made it to the Atlanta City Limits right around 4:30. We were pretty shocked at how light traffic was heading in our direction (not so for the traffic heading out of the City, which was pretty typical for rush hour in a city). Then came the call -- all activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday of Parents' Weekend were cancelled due to weather. Weather? What weather? There was less than 2 inches of snow that accumulated and there was no ice! However, we were determined not to be disappointed and figured we would just grab our kid and go out for a nice dinner on Friday night. We were in for a rude awakening. Almost every restaurant had closed at 2:00 because of the snow storm! We ended up eating at a Zaxby's that was "only going to be open for another 30 minutes and we are out of a lot of our usual menu items." It was then that I realized how 2 can make all the difference. In St. Louis, we don't get to worried about 1, 2 or 3 inches of snow, but let us get to 4 inches (which is 2 times 2) and we declare a blizzard. We talk about things being twice as hard or twice as nice. We think of twins as twice the work (and twice the blessing). We ask for just another couple of minutes and then we are ready to do whatever someone is asking us to do next. We talk about doubling down, double trouble and double the fun (all in the two family).
Sometimes I get frustrated that a work project is taking twice as long as I thought it would. Not because I am not focused on it, but because I am sometimes waiting for others to provide input or give me a piece of what I need to complete the project. It is then that the twos really become a source of frustration -- even more than not finding an open restaurant because of two inches of snow. I try (but don't always succeed) to be patient, understanding that while my project is of utmost importance to me, others have other priorities that are of utmost importance to them. It probably really isn't practical to expect that all projects will be completed in the time you anticipated, but if they too often take twice as long, something is wrong -- either on the planning end or the execution end. I am working on doing a better job of determining how long it will take to complete a project when I am not in control of all of the project's parts (not being in control is another difficulty that I will write about some day). I think that will help quell some of the frustration I experience. I realize that I put this practice into play following the birth of baby #1. Because she was 2 weeks late (darn those twos) I got really tired of hearing "You haven't had that baby yet." So, when I was having the next baby and the one after that, I added two weeks to the due date the doctor gave me and viola, never had the frustration of the project not being done on time.

Didn't know I was such a wimp

2010-01-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have always loved about living in St. Louis is that we really do get to experience four seasons. Well, enough already with this extremely cold weather and no sun!!!! I mean really what is the use of such cold temps if you don't have the mountains to go with them? The new president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital relocated here from San Diego and everyone keeps telling him that we have not had this kind of a long, severe cold snap in years. He just shakes his head and says -- "Sure." I could probably handle the cold, if we could just get more than a nanosecond of sun. Could I be suffering from seasonal affective disorder? Or, am I just a wimp?
On the plus side, the cold has made me a bit more productive as I have retreated to my desk. I have caught up on reading and research projects that were hanging over me like one of those little bubble word clouds over the heads of cartoon characters. It really does feel good to be able to check things off the list (and I learned a lot that will help as several new initiatives get launched).
Speaking of new, I had the pleasure of discovering another great new restaurant this week when I had a one on one staff member luncheon. Truly, these opportunities are becoming one of the favorite parts of my job. I enjoy getting to know the people on the team even better. What they love, their hobbies, their families, what energizes them about working for BJC and their ideas for how we can do what we do even better. I know I must sound like a broken record on this, but my goal is that we are continually providing excellent service to our clients and one of the best ways of getting better is by developing new ideas.
On the flip side of the broken record is my encouragement to engage in a learning & development opportunity. You never know what you will encounter that will be of great benefit. I attended part of a seminar yesterday and a speaker shared something that will stay with me -- Don't let what you want most be compromised by what you want at the moment. There are all kinds of great applications for that bit of advice -- in all of the settings of our life. Of course, when I shared the words with my husband (and got a little teary eyed at how sharing these words with our adult children could be really helpful as they strike out in life), he said -- Hmmn, interesting, but you are such a wimp.

The Gotchas

2010-01-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Many of you are aware that I am somewhat addicted to some less than stellar television shows. From looking at each of the Real Housewives locales (I really am embarrassed by this) to Family Guy (I love the promo that features the youngest kid calling for his mom ad naseum) to Nip/Tuck (can I get away with this because it is kinda about medicine?), I veg out on some pretty bad stuff. However, I am also addicted to the wonderful Mad Men and Meet The Press, Face The Nation and other political television "news shows." Yesterday, as I looked at several of the Sunday morning news shows I had an epiphany on what many of the things I watch have in common. They are all about the "Gotcha." This weekend's political theater "Gotcha" is all about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and what he said privately that is now public (did he miss Communications & Media Training 101?). The reaction to his comments are pretty black & white (no pun intended). From Republicans, this is the latest "Gotcha." From Democrats, it is "let's move on to more important issues." Lest you think I am being partisan, I remember all too well, the Dems playing Gotcha with the comments of former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Time will tell if history repeats itself.
While "Gotcha" makes for interesting fake (even when supposed reality) television series, it is much less helpful in the real world (which is why politics is such a turn off for so many). I believe that we try hard not to play the "Gotcha" game in our department. That doesn't mean that we don't have disagreements -- we do. It means, however that we work through those disagreements respectfully and stay aware of the bigger goal which is to provide excellent service to our clients. None of us can expect all of our work days to be filled with sunshine and lollipops (afterall this is work), but I have always been impressed that when issues arise, we are able to address them in a way that is about getting to resolution rather than playing "Gotcha." The goal of "Gotcha" is always to make someone the loser. We are fortunate that we are about identifying issues, resolving them and celebrating wins!
As we start the New Work Year (as if there is some line of demarcation between the old and the new), I am resolving to more publicly celebrate our department's wins. I will use our Shout Out system more and will make sure the great work you are all doing gets more visibility at the levels above me. Not because you have asked for it, but because you deserve it.

At Year's (but not Wit's) End

2009-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

This year (like all of them since I got on the other side of 30) has flown by. Seems it was just yesterday that we were reviewing the branding agency finalists (it was December 2008) and here we are with 3 months of the strategy live and kicking (and being very well received). In 2010 (why do some people say "20 and 10"), I am looking forward to more fabulous one on one (or one on two or three) lunches/breakfasts with staff members I don't get to spend as much time with as others. I have really enjoyed those this year and have learned a lot. As I shared with my lunch mate yesterday, I want to hear your ideas for how we can serve BJC even better. So, send them to me at anytime -- I am always e-mailable and really appreciate hearing from you. I also hope to get out of the office more and do something I encourage each of you to do -- take a CLL course or two, attend a conference, and do more continuous learning in the fields that will help make one of the best departments even better (gee, seems I have seen those words before).
I could not let the year past without saying thanks to each and every one of you who do such great work (I know I did this in the last post, but you can never be too appreciative). I also want to especially thank, Barbara Reynolds, who goes above and beyond in everything she does to support our department. It is fabulous to have a true partner who is always willing to go the extra miles that are sometimes required and to go those miles with such a wonderful spirit. She is among the true blessings in my life.
Have a great 2010 and I look forward to hearing from you all.
J

Doing More

2009-12-04T13:43:00.001-08:00

How about this? I am posting exactly 2 weeks (my new goal) after my last one. As we near the end of another year, I marvel at how quickly time flies and how much we are able to get done in such a short span of time. For example, we developed a relationship with a new web vendor and are migrating all of our websites to that vendor. This will allow our IS department to focus on the many clinical information services needs of BJC and allow us to keep content fresh and evolving on our websites -- which we know have exponentially elevated in importance to consumers. Thanks to Patt and everyone on her team for the due diligence and hard work to get us where we are. If you want to see an early glimpse of what the move to our new vendor will produce, check out the new website for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. It is truly stunning!
Our Creative Services team continued to serve more and more client requests with the same number of staff. The comments on the quality of work by this 'inhouse agency' continue to be very positive. Whether it is designing a simple (is there any such animal) brochure or developing new logos (I think we did about 4 hospitals this year) and icons (too many to count) the clients are happy with their products. Thanks to Andy and team for all you do.
Kudos continue to pour in for the work done by our Media Services team. They are adapting to all the demands of new media and not missing a beat. They took on the added duties of providing video services as part of communications training and the clients who have taken advantage of this training share that being able to see how they look when answering questions has been very helpfu. And, the Media Services space looks better than ever. A big Shout Out (what happened to these) to Tracie and her team.
Every other week, we are fortunate to have a newspaper that not only looks great (love the new design that incorporates one photo on the front page), but has information that is need-to-know, interesting-to-know and fun-to-know (Off the Cuff) for our employees. As hospital dedicated staff for the paper has shrunk, our BJC Today team has managed to make sure that the content has not missed a beat. Patty and her team truly do a great job in publishing a paper that is worthy of bearing the BJC name.
When it comes to making a difference in the community, our small but mighty, Community Affairs and Community Benefit team goes the distance. From overseeing the Healthy Mind Body Spirit initiative to working with other non-profit organizations focused on the underserved in our communities to gathering all the data from our hospitals/service organizations to ensure we are accurate in our reporting, Debra & team and Karley are to be commended. It is work that is both rewarding and challenging.
Positively positioning BJC and our service organizations and selected hospitals has never been more important and Karen and her team have consistently managed to stretch very limited resources and create value-added strategies for their many clients. I continue to be amazed that so much can be achieved by such a small staff. In the words of a luncheon master of ceremonies that I heard yesterday, You Go Girls!
And, last month we welcomed Kathleen and her portfolio of Health Literacy, School Outreach, Community Health Services and St. Louis OASIS to our department. Aligning these functions with us will allow even more opportunities to work together in improving and communicating BJC's commitment to healthy communities. This team is expert at this work as evidenced by the recognition of BJC as THE health care organization in our region focused on keeping people healthy. Congrats to Kathleen and her team and welcome!
Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone on our team for helping to birth our new BJC branding strategy. From Barbara who is the meeting coordinator guru, to Sylvia who helped to manage gathering of talent, to Kim who helped with content and context for the new social media site, I cannot say thank you enough. The campaign has been embraced by our employees and that is truly the audience that matters most. It has been a busy year, but a rewarding one and I am so blessed to work with each of you.
J

The Power of Within

2009-11-20T16:12:00.000-08:00

This week, I had the pleasure of announcing the promotion of an employee who began her career with BJC 16 years ago. I knew she was good, but have been really pleased (and a bit surprised) at the overwhelmingly positive response to this news. While I think much of it is about who she is, I have also gotten feedback that many are pleased at the decision to promote internally. I understand and appreciate that. I believe in finding the absolute best person for the job that needs to be done now and in the future. Sometimes, the skill set is inside and sometimes it is outside. Before I came to BJC, I was a candidate for a position at a large company in St. Louis. I remember the CEO confiding that he was wrestling with the decision of whether to go outside and hire me or promote from within. I shared with him that if he had an outstanding candidate inside, he should promote from within. Not only would it be well deserved recognition, but it would speak volumes to the employees of the possibilities for growth and advancement. Ultimately, he agreed and while I lost out on a job, he and I have continued to stay in contact and the employee he promoted and I also became good friends. It was a good outcome all the way around, as just a couple of years later, I was fortunate to find BJC. And, the rest is what's happening now.
I wish you all (whoever the faithful readers are) a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine will be quite busy as we host my husband's very large extended family and my much smaller family at our home. I am very excited that all three of our kids will be home from school, but my excitement pales in comparison to Flint's. He's like a kid looking forward to his 21st birthday. Okay, so I have gone a bit off track with this posting, but I couldn't let the holiday pass us by without acknowledging it and the fact that we had lots of sunshine today!

Am I just talking to myself?

2009-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Where did everyone go? On the last post, there were no comments shared. Does this mean that no one is still reading? Is it because I post so infrequently? Is it because what is being said, makes one go "Hmmmnn", but does not lead to a necessary reply? Or, have I been abandoned? These are the questions I am asking myself. You guys will remember that one of the reasons I began this BLOG was to get a feel for what it is like to play in the world of social media so that we could make an informed decision for what BJC should do. Well, since that time BJC has entered that world with both feet -- heck with entire body. www.makemedicinebetter.org continues to get a lot of visits and the registrations exceed the normal conversion rate. However, I am surprised at the number of folks who visit and don't share any ideas or nominate a person to be a Hero. But, then I thought of my own behavior. I visit lots of sites and never register. I read lots of articles on line and think of all kinds of responses to share, but often do not leave a comment. So perhaps there are lots of people out there who are more like me than I imagined (my family is likely thinking -- Please say it isn't so). So, to all of the former readers of this BLOG, come on back. Let me know what you are thinking, wondering, hoping that I will address in this space. Right now, I am thinking it is great to see the sun (the sunless days of last week sealed that I could never live in Cleveland or Seattle or Ireland), wondering when (not if) the Rams will win their first game, and planning to tackle the piles of work that are on my desk (part of what makes my posts much more infrequent than I would like). What are you thinking, wondering and hoping? Would love to know.
J

Join the Discussion

2009-10-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

I hope that many of you have taken time to visit makemedicinebetter.org. A huge thank you to all the BJC staff members who helped to bring this new site to life by reviewing the inititial design and making recommendations to make it better; going out and playing on the site during its pre-launch phase and making recommendations to make the navigation better; and being willing to share suggestions and comments to ensure that the site was visitor-ready. To be sure, the site is still evolving and while the number of visitors continues to grow, the site will only be as good as the content that is included. The great thing about a social site is that while we have the ability to post lots of content, there is freedom for anyone who registers to share what is on their mind in the "Who's Talking" section. Also, we encourage everyone to nominate a hero -- someone who is doing something swell for others, share ideas on how medicine can be made better and participate in the online polls.
I also want to encourage you to send suggestions to me on how to make the site even better. We look forward to posting Day in the Life videos, new blogs and other information that will keep the site fresh. But, I am sure that many of you have recommendations that I (and others working on this site) have not considered, so please share them. We also know that getting traffic to an online site is not as simple as the Field of Dreams mantra of "If you build it, they will come." Thus, BJC's new billboards and tv and radio spots all invite the public to visit makemedicinebetter.org. I hope you will do the same.

A Tribute

2009-09-16T08:48:00.001-07:00

We heard what we knew was on the horizon at 2:43 a.m. on September 16. For the past three weeks we had prepared emotionally for this time, but that did not make it any easier. Flint (my husband) walked downstairs and for the next 5 hours stayed at the side of our beloved dog, Weasel who could no longer support her weight and whose breathing was labored. I admit to being too much of an emotional wreck (and a wimp) to join them. Flint actually shared that it would be best for me to stay upstairs. So we all waited for the change we knew would come. At 8:00 a.m. we made the second trip in as many days to the vet who had so lovingly cared for her since we brought her home from the Humane Society in 2000. When Flint and our three kids selected Weasel (the name she had at the Humane Society) they were given several facts -- that she was a German Spitz Chow mix, that she had been abused, that she had been with them for almost 8 weeks and that she was approximately 2 years old. She was such a sweet and mellow dog that she suited our erratic, ever on the run family to a tee. At her first visit to the vet, we learned that she was much closer to 4 that 2, but that she was otherwise in great health.

For the next 9 years, she was the source of much joy and laughter caused by a number of interesting behaviors. First, Weasel would not leave the house without being on a leash (we joked that she remembered a door being opened, running out and never being let in again). Like any Chow, she had a spotted tongue and did not allow her feet to touch puddles of water. She tended to lay down like a bunny rabbit with all four legs very flat to the floor. She also laid down when she ate from her bowl. She also never barked and was not much for playing dog like games such as fetch the ball. Like many loved family pets, she did not think she was an animal at all.

On her last night, Weasel again exhibited some interesting behaviors. She walked all around the house (all three stories) -- as if wanting to experience all parts of her home for the last time. While she started out sleeping in our room, she eventually went downstairs to a corner of the family room to sleep. It was there that she and Flint shared those five hours. Weasel had been diagnosed with aplastic anemia and while her red blood cells were beginning to show signs of regeneration, she had no platelets. But, she continued to cling to life and we got her to the vet and said our goodbyes.

I am thankful for all the moments we shared with our Weasel. I will forever be indebted to Flint for the courage and care he provided to her in her final hours. I will always appreciate the understanding of the veterinary staff as I fell apart and the empathy as they ushered her through with dignity and grace.

Lunching and Learning

2009-08-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hi to All:
I know, I know -- it's been a really long time since I posted. It's not that I have not had anything to say (I've got plenty), but like all of you, time is just crammed full of lots of opportunities to explore and challenges to be overcome. Enough of my excuse making and onto the subject of today's post. So, for the past few months I have been having a ball going to breakfast and lunch with many of the staff that I don't get to spend much time with very often. These have been fun meal times for me and so far, the staff members I have dined with have not run out of the restaurant screaming "Don't ever call me again" so I take that as a good sign. Seriously, I have learned something useful from all of the lunches and breakfasts (including some really cool restaurants that I had either never been to or had not visited in a long time). Most people really love their jobs, are energized by the people they get to work with each day and are proud to work for BJC HealthCare.
In my last lunch experience (which was about ten days ago), I experienced a first hand teachable moment with respect to generational difference. There were four of us at lunch, with me as a baby boomer being the oldest by a good margin. One of lunchers was part of the baby boomlet, another a GenX'r and another a GenY. (I know that boomletters and Gen Xers are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference). We were discussing the passing of Les Paul and the conversation went like this: Me -- I heard on NPR that Les Paul died. Boomletter -- Yea, I saw it online. Gen X'r: I got a Tweat about it. Gen Y'r -- Who's Les Paul?
I absolutely LOVED this exchange (of course since it was almost two weeks ago, my memory may be a little fuzzy, but you get the idea.). This kind of reminder of generational difference is especially helpful in some of the work that we are engaged in now. Understanding how people receive and share information is critical for those of us in the business of communicating. What I learned at this lunch is that sooner rather than later, we have all got to embrace new technologies and methods of exchanging information. When I was a younger boomer, that was much easier. I moved seamlessly from vinyl to 8 track to cassette to cd. However, those changes were not as hard to navigate. I admit to having not Twittered, to only going on my Facebook page to accept a new friend (and only if it is someone I know) and I continue to get some of the names wrong -- it's rss feed, right?
I am determined to try to carve out time to get more knowledgeable about this new world of information. After all, at some point in time it is likely to be the only way I will be able to communicate with those grandchildren to come. While that is not happening anytime soon, as an empty nester of 3 days now, I know those days are coming! So thanks to my Boomlet, GenX and Gen Y companions for a memorable Lunch and Learn.
J

That's Trillion with a T

2009-07-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Like many who work in health care (and some who don't), I am watching the discussions/debates/proposals/revised proposals on health care reform with much interest. One of the things that has intrigued me is the ease with which incredibly large dollar amounts are communicated. I mean when did "trillion dollars" sneak so comfortably into our vocabulary? I remember when I was a little girl (which I admit was a really long time ago), "million" was more a concept than an amount as it seemed so far out of any normal person's grasp. I remember vividly that if someone had a million dollars, they would never have to work again. Winning a million dollars would have set you on that street called Easy. I know lots of people who don't bother to play the lottery if the pot is not lots and lots of millions -- not that I am encouraging people to gamble, it is just something that I have observed. I have asked my family and friends who only buy tickets when the lottery pot gets to that over $100 million mark, "Why don't you play when you could win $2 million?" The general answer is "It's just not as much fun to dream about what I could do with $2 million. Now, $200 million, I'm on Easy Street."
I understand inflation and that a dollar is not what it used to be. Is that why we have moved so comfortably from talking about millions to billions to trillions? Is it because the television news anchors say it with such ease? Even though I am pretty horrible at math, I am fascinated by numbers. (As an aside, I thought July 8 was very cool because the date was 7-8-9. And yesterday (July 16), if you added the month and the year, the sum was the day). So, for the first time ever, I numerically wrote 1 trillion. It doesn't just easily roll off the pen and required me to go back and count more than once to make sure I had included the right number of zeroes. I think if we took the time to write numbers out (sorry AP Style Guide) or to imagine what a trillion of anything would look like (would a trillion baseballs fill a stadium?), we might have a deeper appreciation for what these numbers mean. This is not a political statement, just one woman's observation.

Laughing Out Loud and All Things Political

2009-06-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

So, I was just about to update my BLOG (knowing it would be wrong for June to let the month of June pass and not write afewjunethoughts) when I read two recent posts. One gave me information and one (from Patt C) made me laugh out loud. Really, Patt when I wrote that I would update the BLOG weekly, I really meant "weakly." Just joking.
This has been quite the week -- the passing of three iconic figures of popular culture, the blazing heat (why don't we get spring anymore), and the debate over passing an indoor smoking ordinance in the City of St. Louis. BJC has gone on record as supporting the proposed ordinance and Leann Chilton (our Director of Government Affairs) and I were at today's committee hearing on the ordinance that lasted for approximately 3 hours. Leann shared BJC's position of support and I spoke in support as a St. Louis City resident. As a former government employee, I really do love all things political. I love that we live in a country where we have the freedom to adamantly disagree with one another, yet still maintain order and lawfulness. It is a true strength of our system of government that citizens on opposing sides of this issue sat respectfully next to one another, listened to positions they did not agree with, yet did not become disagreeable. The standing room only attendance at this hearing showed that it is an issue that people care about greatly. You just gotta love democracy.
J

Twitter, Yammer, Second Life yada yada yada

2009-05-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, since I am so bad at keeping my BLOG updated, you have to know my intimidation at the world of all things Social Media. I am so pleased that at our upcoming BJC HealthCare Marketing & Communications Conference we will have the opportunity to hear from those who have been at this much longer than I and with much more commitment and diligence than I. Yes, I have a Yammer account, but as some of you who also are a part of that social network know, I have yet to tweet or yam on it. (Maybe it is because I kinda giggle every time I read the words that are used to identify social sites and the actions for participating). However, it is becoming clear that this form of communication is here to stay and as a person who has Communications as part of her title, I have to get over my fear (and giggles) and dive into the waters.
On another note, it has been great to see that we are using technology to recognize co-workers doing good things. I love reading the Shout Outs and hope that those who are the subject of them enjoy the recognition that comes from their co-workers. While not as far reaching as Yammer or Twitter, Shout Outs provide us the opportunity to share within our own Communications & Marketing social network the great things done by our fellow staff members. As I did a Blog or two ago, I encourage you to keep using this recognition program.
Finally, you should have all received an e-mail sharing the date of our Our Staff Meeting (OSM anyone?) on July 8. In addition to sharing the 487 digital photos from my first-ever trip to Paris (just joking), we will spend the morning getting updated on what is happening around BJC, our department and in the community. We will meet at the brand new BJC Learning Institute and a formal agenda will be sent a few weeks prior to the meeting, but I hope you are looking forward to another opportunity for us to all come together. No date is ever perfect and for those who can't attend due to other commitments, I will send you a tweet or yam to keep you in the loop (again, just joking).
Finally, an informal survey -- are any of you active in the social media world? And, if so do you have a preference (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc)? And, if you are not active, what keeps you from jumping into the waters?
J

What happened to the frequent Postings?

2009-04-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

It is called work and family and just everything getting in the way. In case you haven't heard they have been some changes around these parts. Kim, Mary Elizabeth and Sylvia have recently abandoned me for different office space. It is amazing how something that should be as simple as an office move can throw things topsy-turvy. Additionally, there has been a spat of time where I have had more off-site meetings, retreats and conferences than you can shake a stick at (okay, can you guys tell I spoke to my grandmother over the weekend)? And, in the midst of all of this, we are preparing to send our last child off to college (and yes, that is me doing the Happy Dance). I would give anything to be in her head as she has narrowed her selection (finally) to two schools -- DePaul in Chicago and University of Miami in Florida (no extreme temperature difference there).
But, that is no excuse for how long it has taken me to update this Blog. A Blog is only good if it contains new information that makes the readers want to come back. Now, while I liked the Friday Fun Game, I did not intend for it to stay the newest posting for three weeks. So, my apologies to all. As for the answers to Co-Worker Jeopardy:
1. Who is Becky Slatin?
2. Who is Mike Quinn?
3. Who is Kim Kitson?
4. Who is Gary Stolz?
5. Who is Karen Stewart?
6. Who is Patty Johnson?
7. Who is Emily Barklage OR Tiffany Dabbs OR Barbara Reynolds OR Scott Suppelsa OR Karen Stewart?
8. Who is Patt Christie?
9. Who is Debra Denham?
10. Who is Libby Coleman
Hope it was fun for you guys. More much sooner.
J

Co-worker Jeopardy

2009-03-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

1. This co-worker was recently spotted at a high profile event in the town laid out by L'Enfant.

2. This co-worker (along with their spouse) has an ear for interesting music with colorful lyrics.

3. Horses and dogs, but no bears -- oh my!

4. Even thought not a member of Interactice Services, this co-worker is very up-to-date on tweets, twitters, blogs, kindles, and all things social media.

5. This co-worker has a granddaughter so photogenic (as evidenced by her BJC Today photo shoots) she is bound to be America's Next Top Model in 17 years?

6. This co-worker not only writes up a storm but also cooks (along with their spouse) up a hurricane.

7. For this co-worker, BJC is a family affair.

8. This co-worker would never say "No Soup For You!"

9. This co-worker is All Community, All The Time.

10. For this co-worker, baking is an award winning sport.

Since I have heard that posting on the blog site is a little difficult, feel free to shoot me an e-mail with the 'answers' to the jeopardy statements. And, the prize for winning? The joy of realizing how well you know your co-workers. Have a great weekend!
J

Giving A "Shout Out"

2009-02-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

Too often we notice that our co-workers have done something wonderful, gone above and beyond in providing service, or been a good listener when we needed to vent. You probably always planned to send a note or stop by and let that co-worker know how much they were appreciated, but somehow time got away from you. Well, BJC Corporate Communications & Marketing to the rescue! In the next few weeks, Debra Denham and Mary Elizabeth Grimes will be coming to one of your staff meetings to introduce the BJC Corporate Communications & Marketing SHOUT OUT Award. I don't want to steal their thunder, so I won't go into a lot of detail here, but am pleased that they have created an easy and accessible opportunity for us to share our appreciation with one another. And, it will encourage you to use this space (which I think is a good thing). So, to Debra and Mary Elizabeth, I am sending a very public SHOUT OUT for a job well done!

Another quick note, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Becky Slatin a week ago and truly enjoyed getting to learn more about her. I am looking forward to the next lunch which will be with "DRUM ROLL PLEASE" Tiffany Ann Dabbs, administrative assistant to Mary Elizabeth and Sylvia. So, Tiffany, this is your notice that Barbara will be contacting you to set up lunch or breakfast at the restaurant of your choice (this was a bit of a challenge for me and Becky) and you may feel free to invite a co-worker or dine with me alone.

Finally, at a recent staff meeting I shared with the managers and directors some of the projects that will keep me busy in 2009. List includes community benefit, branding, community hospital & Kingshighway campus signage, BJC national positioning, economic stimulus package projects, more earned media, delivering communications & media training, gaining local approval of hospital construction projects, etc. etc. etc. What will keep you busy this year?

I am Inspired

2009-01-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

Today I had the pleasure of attending the newly branded "Souper Bowl" Luncheon hosted by BJC's Media Services Team. It was a wonderful experience to sample different varieties of chili and soup prepared by communications and marketing staff from across our organization. I certainly had some favorites, but everything I tasted was good. What a talented bunch. It was also nice to get to chat (even if only for a few moments) with marketing & communications team members from near and far.
What was also very cool was getting a tour of the 'renewed' Media Services space. The team took the opportunity to get super-organized in preparation for new carpeting and paint. As Taunia led our tour, she shared how much more efficeint she feels now that the work space was so much more attractive.
Which brings me to the "I am Inspired" part. I am embarrassed to admit that I have been here for slightly over five years, but still have files (that I have not reviewed) in my office of the person who preceded me . Now, it should be really easy to just throw them out, because if I have not looked at them in five years, I obviously don't need them, right? Wrong -- it is impossible for me to just pitch something until I look at it to make SURE I don't need it. But, I am going to do just that over the next several Saturdays. Because, like Taunia, I want to feel much more efficient.
So, I thank the Media Services Team for a great lunch that came with non-edible extras!
J

The Year Ahead

2009-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Oaky, I will admit it -- I have not yet completed my goals for what I will accomplish at work this year. Not because I don't think this is important (it is), but because I am still digging out from several large end of the year projects that commanded much of my attention. One of the reasons I started writing this BLOG was feedback that some Communications staff members wondered how I spent my time. Two of the projects that consumed time at the end of the year will hopefully prove to be very beneficial for BJC and the region as a whole. One was completion of the contract to facilitate the reconstruction of the Tower Grove/I-64 interchange near the Kingshighway campus. This project, which will not begin until the New I-64 construction (another project that has taken a lot of time and allowed me to stand on an overpass at 5:45 a.m. and talk to all three news stations) is complete, will provide the public with a much improved interchange.
The other project involved a cross-organizational task force of health care providers, elected officials, educators and others who examined access to health care for residents living in North St. Louis City. This was a fascinating (and very worthwhile) effort that yielded a report with 18 key recommendations submitted to the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis. It also yielded new relationships and a commitment among the participants to work together to address this very important issue.
When I looked back at my 2008 goals, only one of these projects was on the list. But, we know that as a client-serving function, our job is to meet the needs of our clients. It is great when those needs are anticipated early and we have lots of time, but in reality that is often not the case.
So, I am resolving to complete my 2009 work goals within the next 7 days (that's kind of a goal, right?). One of them is to find time to come visit and talk with each of you more regularly. I always learn a lot from those rare visits and there is generally something shared that makes me laugh. This is also the month that I will also start hosting lunch/breakfast with a staff member or group of staff members. So, someone should look forward to a call from Barb Reynolds next week to schedule our 'date' for the last week of January.
I am also working on personal goals. Over the holidays, a good friend shared that he and his family each write down their goals for the year and talk about them together. They include things like spending more quality time together, volunteering to help others, and getting closer to neighbors. I was very impressed, but a little embarassed to realize that my personal goals would not be nearly as lofty -- I mostly want to figure out how to keep my closet from becoming a wreck two weeks after I have cleaned it.
Have you completed your work goals for 2009? How about any personal goals? Would love to hear from you.

End of the Year

2008-12-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

First of all THANK YOU to each and every one of the members of the BJC Corporate Communications Team. I feel very fortunate to get to work with people who are so dedicated to their jobs and to each other. We continued to be stretched this past year and to rise to the occassion. We welcomed new team members and said goodbye to others. We all know Change is the one constant in life (hows that for ending the year with a much-used cliche. I will refrain from talking about shifting paradigms or stakeholder engagement or pushing the envelope or Vote for Pedro -- another one of my secret favorite movies).
I am looking forward to 2009, but mostly I am looking forward to the end of the work day when I will go home and hang with my children (all three are home -- yea!!!), cook a big dinner for tomorrow and welcome my side of the family, and then do something we have never done before -- spend New Year's someplace other than St. Louis. Yep, Flint and I are heading to Hilton Head with friends for a little non-kid rest and relaxation where you can bet I will try really hard not to read the blackberry or call in to the office. (My husband says this is what you call a Sucker Bet). I wish you all a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year. See you in 09.
J

Maybe we are not BLOG-Ready

2008-12-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

So, I am over two weeks late posting my weekly message and no one has taken me to task. Does this mean that perhaps our Department is not BLOG-ready? Should I perhaps be communicating via weekly e-mail blasts? Or, am I just imagining that the questions asked in my weekly messages are provocative enough to invite comments from you? Are, or we in the age group that has not yet embraced regular use of social media? You may remember that when I began this journey, it was part research to see if BLOGGING has a place as a regular form of communication for BJC? Based on the experience so far, I would say we might be a bit premature in recommending this to leadership as an appropriate method of two-way communication. One of the non-BJC regular readers of this BLOG has suggested I spice it up with photos and other visuals to add interest. Others have suggested that I send out a reminder that there is a new post. Others noted that readers could 'book-mark' the site, so that they would know to occassionally visit. So, I am asking are we BLOG-ready or should this form of communication for our department be abandoned in favor of more traditional methods? I really do look forward to hearing from you.
J

But Your Mother Owns a Beauty Salon

2008-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

At BJC, each fall we have the opportunity to participate in an All Employee Survey. Yesterday I had the chance to see a broad overview of our department's results and I look forward to sharing them with you over the next few weeks. However, two things caught my eye and gave me "cause for pause" and are the subject of this posting. Some Context: When I was about 7 my parents bought a beauty salon that my mother operated for about 8 years. She was quite the sought after hair stylist and always had a steady stream of customers. And, you would think that my sisters and I would have had the most up-to-date hair styles among our friends. And, you would be wrong. There is an old adage that the doctor's kids are the sickest, the plumber's pipes leak, and the chef's family eats Chef Boy Ar Dee (boy, am I aging myself).
Two areas of our survey results, made me think of these adages and my mother's hair salon and my less than stylish hair growing up. The opportunities for improvement in your views of leadership (me) and communication throughout the department (me, directors and managers). I won't pretend it was easy to see the scores -- it wasn't. But, I believe when you are faced with a challenge you have two choices -- either rise to it or move on. I prefer the rise option. I welcome any feedback you are comfortable sharing on improving these two areas. You can share them in this forum, shoot me an e-mail, or send me an anonymous note. I assure you I have very thick skin (I worked in government for 16 years and spent many Monday nights conducting zoning and land use public hearings, so criticism does not bother me) and truly want to hear from you. I know that I won't always get it right, but you have my commitment that I will try.

Work and Fun -- Mutually Exclusive Events???

2008-11-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

Many of you have heard me say that I think it is important to enjoy what you do for a living. After all, the vast majority of our weekday waking hours are spent working. The days go by a lot faster if we feel that what we do makes a difference; we have co-workers with whom we can share the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat; and if we can sometimes have a good old-fashioned belly-laugh because something is so darned funny. I am fortunate that I get to experience these things -- not all the time, but some of the time. In large part, it is because of the very talented BJC communications and marketing team I have the honor of leading. Last Friday, our team had some 'planned fun' taking a little bit longer at lunch and enjoying ourselves at Dave & Busters. While taking time for this kind of fun opportunity is important, it is the thrill of solving a work challenge together that I really enjoy. Whether we solve the challenge with words, pictures, video, the web or a combination, the role of our team in helping to tell the story of BJC and our hospitals and services is a value-added one. Are we perfect? Absolutely, not. But, are we committed to doing the best work possible for our clients each and every time? Absolutely. Is this always easy? I wish. But, fortunately most of the time we do get it right. And that to me makes work fun. What about work is fun for you?

It will only pinch for a moment

2008-10-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Those are the words we heard as children when it was time for the dreaded trip to the doctor's office. Dreaded not because we disliked our pediatrician, but because we were likely to get a shot. Even the choice of a sucker did not quickly dry the tears. But those vaccinations were necessary to keep us healthy. Fast forward to adulthood and we find ourselves in the position of having to get a shot to protect us from the flu. As employees of BJC, the influenza vaccination (or nasal mist) is now mandatory. I confess that I experienced my first flu shot in 2007 when we had the voluntary push for employees to take the vaccine. Not that I was afraid of the pinch, but because I remembered the Swine Flu debacle in the 1970s and because I never got the flu. However, thanks to the information that was shared in 2007, it became clear to me why getting a flu shot was not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. So this week, I will happily roll up my sleeve and take my shot. As employees of the largest health care provider in the state, we are setting an important example and ensuring that we are doing everything we can for the safety of our patients. I urge each of us to take advantage of the free flu shot and to remember, it will only pinch for a moment.

When your work day turns our differently

2008-10-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

I had everything planned for how I would spend Friday, October 17. A 9:00 meeting this morning that would only last about 45 minutes, followed by a quick 'surprise' visit to staff at what we affectionately call 9890 and the Tab, then lunch with Director of Marketing for one of our other hospitals, a meeting on I-64 and then plowing through the piles on my desk and credenza. Of course that was before I was alerted at 5:20 a.m. to the news that there had been a fire at BJSPH and that patients and staff had been evacuated. At least that was the story on the news. The facts were quite different, but a fire at a site takes on a life of its own and zaps any plans you had for how you would spend your work day. There was no evacuation, the fire was contained to a mechanical facility and the hospital was back to normal operations within an hour and a half thanks to the great work of staff and the local fire departments. So, I sit here at 5:33 p.m. now that everything is under control (in our world, that means the facts have now been communicated to as many audiences as we can think of) and wonder if I should now try to make the piles on my desk and credenza smaller or give in to the fact that I am no longer 32 and my energy sometimes depletes faster than it used to and head home. Which scenario do you think won out and why?

When's the upside of this roller coaster ride

2008-10-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

When I was little I hated roller coasters for one reason -- the feeling in my stomach as the coaster took the downward plunge. For my siblings that was the thrill. Well, the downward plunge we have been on for the past week has been anything but a thrill as we all anxiously wait for the stock market to do what roller coasters do -- go back up! As I wait, very nervously I admit, I am trying to ensure I am doing everything I can to not panic, to not make any rash decisions, and to make small changes that will help me to save more, spend less (probably what I should be doing anyway). As readers know, I started taking Metro to work and have now expanded to using it to run errands -- saving wear and tear on the car and totally reducing the amount of money I spend on gasoline. I am also not eating out at lunch and dinner as often. To the shock of my husband and our last still-at-home daughter, I have cooked dinner every night this week (I added up the dollars spent on grabbing Mexican from Qdobo or healthy stuff from Crazy Bowls & Wraps or saying "let's meet at Houlihans" and realized we could do much better). I am placing into the recycle bin the Macy's, Talbots, Harolds, Black House/White Market mailings as soon as they come in the mail, lest I be tempted by the Season's Biggest Sale with a 25% additional off coupon to match (yes, I love to shop).
Indeed these are very scary times, but I am thankful that I work for BJC (health care is a much more stable employer than many); am trying to remember that when it comes to retirement savings, when stock prices are low it is a buying opportunity; and focusing on what kept me going as a child on those roller coaster rides was knowing they would be going back up and eventually coming to rest.
I'd love to hear things you are doing or have heard others are doing to weather this economic storm. Please share.

It's an Honor just to be Nominated

2008-09-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

It is true that being nominated is an honor, as it is recogniton for a job well done -- but it is also really cool to actually WIN! Each year as summer ends, we learn how our creative and written work has been judged by a group of our peers in the Missouri Hospital Association Show-Me Awards. Thanks to BJC HealthCare's very talented designers, writers, photographers and media staff we generally get to move beyond the honor of the nomination. A hearty congratulations to all of those on our corporate team who had the opportunity to hear "And the Winner Is...." for various projects. With first place honors, the winners are: BJC Media Services, Donna Dalessandro, Kristine Brookes-Quinn, Jane House and Beth Tuttle. With second place wins: Sylvia Sharockman, Lauran Morgan and Kristine Brooks-Quinn. Finally, with third place honors: Tim Mudrovic, Donnal Dalessandro, BJC Media Services, Karen Stewart and Jane House. Congratulations to all of our team members for jobs well done. As you think back over the past year, can you share a project that you worked on that made you really proud? There are many for me, but one that comes to mind is the I-64 closure and making sure we were prepared, rather than panicked. How about you?
J

Why I Love My Job

2008-09-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Okay guys,
This one will be longer than my last, but it truly speaks to why I am so proud to work for BJC HealthCare. I feel very fortunate that most days I truly do love my job (notice, I said "most" not "all"). I have worked for government, private industry and now not-for-profit and found really smart people in all three sectors. But, nowhere have I found employees so committed to their mission as in health care. As you read the commentary below by Steve, I hope it helps you remember the very good work that is done each and everyday at BJC HealthCare and the very important part you play in making it happen!
J

Community Benefit goes beyond Charity Care

Last month, a woman arrived in the emergency department. She was alone, she was in pain and she was frightened. To make matters worse, she did not speak English. She was unable to tell the doctor and nurse what was wrong, and she could not understand the questions they asked of her. Within a few minutes, an interpreter arrived from the hospital’s refugee health and interpreter services, a free service available around the clock to bridge the language and cultural gap between patients and caregivers. The relief of being able to communicate undoubtedly served to lessen the anxiety of the patient’s medical crisis. Hers is one of more than 32,000 such encounters each year that are made possible through this special service at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Is providing an interpreter for non-English speaking patients a benefit to patients and the community? Is such a benefit of as much value as charity care?
Apparently not, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In recent coverage (a business section article on Sept. 3 followed by an editorial on Sept. 7), the newspaper espouses a narrow definition of “community benefit” as charity care and charity care alone.
In reality, charity care is only one element of community benefit – albeit an important and obvious one. In 2007, the hospitals of BJC HealthCare provided more than $50 million in charity care, more than any other health care organization in Missouri. BJC also subsidized $230 million in underpayments from Medicare and Medicaid and provided an additional $68 million in unreimbursed care that patients were unable to afford.
Our charity care programs are among the most generous in the nation. Many programs across the country provide discounts for family incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty limit while BJC offers discounts for patients in families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, as part of a pending lawsuit settlement, BJC has enhanced this program by offering automatic discounts of 25% for any patient without insurance, regardless of their income.
Misrepresentations continue to appear in the news media regarding nonprofit hospitals and charity care. What seems to repeatedly get lost in translation is that charity care is just one aspect of the obligation hospitals have to their communities. Nonprofit hospitals, in return for their tax-free status, are obligated to provide many community benefits to those they serve. In a community without a public hospital, maintaining nonprofit status for hospitals is the best way to ensure the uninsured and underinsured continue to have access to vital health care services. While taxing hospitals would provide revenues to local, state and federal governments, there is no guarantee that those revenues would be used to provide access to health care for the uninsured.
The definition of community benefit extends beyond this uncompensated care, however, to vital services and programs that would not and could not exist unless hospitals provided them. For example, BJC invested more than $80 million in medical and nursing education, contributed nearly $16 million toward bio-medical research and provided more than $14 million in community outreach efforts during 2007.
That’s a total of $458 million in free medical care, health professions education, medical research and community benefit programs like interpreter services, mammography screenings for low-income women, health screenings in underserved communities and teen smoking cessation programs in area schools, to name but a few. These community benefit programs are no less important than direct medical care, but they go unreported by the Post-Dispatch, and appear to be less appreciated and under-valued. Taken together, these community benefit expenditures add up to almost 15% of BJC operating revenues – substantially more than the 1.75% of revenues attributable to charity care alone.
To someone in medical distress, who does not speak English, or to a woman who cannot otherwise afford a mammogram or to a teen on the brink of a lifelong addiction to nicotine, these programs can and do make an immediate and important difference. Rather than being ignored or disregarded, community benefit programs should be encouraged and embraced by the Post-Dispatch as true investments in the community, just like charity care.

Steven H. Lipstein
President & Chief Executive Officer
BJC HealthCare

It is Easier Being Green

2008-09-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Hi to All:
The "Go Green" Theme of our recent BJC Communications & Marketing Conference, led me to rethink my skepticism about this concept. Remembering all to well the last time our country embarked on environmental consciousness in the late 70s and early 80s (in fact my 1978 unairconditoned Plymouth Horizon was immortalized in a long gasoline waiting line photograph in the local newspaper), I told myself -- "this too shall pass." But, this time there does seem to be something different as 'green' seems to have gone mainstream.
So, I have gotten on the green bandwagon or more accurately, the Metro. For the most part, I have parked my car and am taking Metro to get to and from work and to and from meetings that I have in Clayton and downtown. Because BJC offers the Metro pass discount, I am not only being green, but saving green. I am fortunate to live and work very close to Metro stops which has made it easy for me to get out of my car. However, in keeping with the lessons from our conference, there are lots of things we can all do to incorporate more 'green' into our actions and I encourage you to try some. Would love to hear ideas about what you are doing or may do to 'Go Green.'
J