what will it take for hospitals to be the best run organizations on the face of the planet?

that is the question that I can't seem to let go.

these past few days have been quite humbling, I've realized how hopelessly clueless I am about putting up a presentable webpage. At times, I've felt like this dog - I can envision what I want, but I can't get there cuz I'm fenced in by my lack of web prowess.

I couldn't have done it without the forum communities of the blogging software I'm using. which actually brings me to one of the main purposes of this blog: to learn from each other. If each hospital could take the best of their knowledge and transfer it to all the others, and if hospitals could learn from the best run companies in the world, maybe hospitals could become the best run organizations on the face of the planet. that is the single-minded intention of this blog.

In the leadership section, I hope to explore topics like maximizing patient satisfaction, quantum leaps in hospital management, org culture, improving financial performance, strategic planning, influencing others, etc... by learning from other hospitals, other thinkers, other organizations. The most interesting part may very well be taking the lessons of the likes of Apple, Wal-Mart, and Southwest Airlines, and applying it to a hospital. My wife always laughs at me when we sit down at a restaurant and I "size up" the operations, branding, and competitive environment. "this is a perfectly positioned restaurant for this location," I say smugly. a little geeky? oh, yeah! I admit it. But it comes from a conviction that people (esp. leaders) have to take substantial time to think hard, process, and digest (not just learn or understand) information to really make an impact. We are a generation of news junkies and information junkies - too many have lost the ability to think original thoughts and to make the creative linkages between seemingly unrelated information.

the perspectives section aims for the same target, but goes at it from a different tact. Hospitals will never be the best run organizations on the face of the planet unless it employs the best, most motivated, most inspired, and most inspiring leaders on the face of the planet. (some hospital leaders I've met already fit this bill) Part of that is taking some time to gain perspective about why hospitals are so important, beautiful, and crucial - for individual lives as well as our society as a whole. If we forget why hospitals are worth fighting for, then we are lost.

the about section is more about this blog and about me. Blogging is a relatively new phenomenom and there is a lot to be said (and a lot for me to learn) about what makes a good blog.

the links section links you to my favorite websites, books, and resources. and the scoop section is noteworthy news. These sections are purposely focused (instead of comprehensive) and digestable. The problem in hospital management issues isn't the lack of information, it's that the information is too fragmented, too voluminous, and too disorganized to be useful. So this will be my humble attempt to prioritize, categorize, and connect.

Hope you enjoy the ride!

I'd love to hear from you! Email me with questions, comments, ideas, tips, items you want to see addressed at tony@hospitalimpact.org