I hope you are all having a great week.
I’m trying something a little different today. Moving forward, I’ll be communicating with you via this new weekly blog. It’s about you and for you…the 13,000 everyday innovators throughout Central New England, all striving to make UMass Memorial Health Care the best place to give care, and the best place to get care. I’ll be writing about many things in this space: the innovations you are creating on the front lines to make our work more effective and more efficient; changes taking place in the health care industry at the federal and state level, and what those changes mean to us as caregivers; news articles, videos and ideas that I think will help give some perspective on the important work that we all do.
At the top of each weekly post, there is a blue word balloon which, when clicked, links to a “comment” box. Please take some time to write back to let me know what you think about the blog, or tip me off to some great work a colleague is doing…it’s important that this is a dialogue between us, so please drop me a note.
Innovations come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it’s the ideas that seem very small that can make strong impacts. One of my favorite stories that came across my desk recently is the story of Ryan, a seven-year-old who has found a way to help patients in our Cancer Center of Excellence. Ryan’s story (shown in the video below) was generated by ideas posted by Medical Center staff on an Idea Board. It’s a great example of how a small, simple suggestion can make a positive impact on the care we deliver. You are going to be hearing a lot from me about the power of Idea Boards!
In closing, I want to make you all aware of a great event that took place yesterday. Our colleagues at UMass Memorial Medical Center celebrated their first Innovation Celebration, highlighting the many improvements that have come about through ideas generated by staff.To date there have been more than a thousand of these ideas implemented, and these celebrations will give us a chance to recognize and cheer on our innovators. Wing Memorial Hospital has been holding similar celebrations for over a year, and Marlborough Hospital is planning on their first one in the fall. Please be sure to attend celebrations when you can, or more importantly, be sure to share your ideas to help us become the best place to give care and the best place to get care.
Thanks for taking great care of our patients and one another,
Eric
What a great way of increasing the flow of communication…..Thanks! Looking forard to reading the blogs
I think this is a great idea. Can’t wait to see the weekly blogs
I would also like to say thank you I think it is a great idea and if employees take advantage of this it could help them in their department as well. each of us could learn something from the next and pass it on as well.
This blog is an efficient way to keep informed all of us about new ideas that will make a difference on our Patient Care and will give us the satisfaction to be involved as an inovator in our differents responsibilities.
Just want to send a “thank you” for keeping us employees informed. Great idea.
I really think this is an awesome way to let’s everyone know what others are working on and what great ideas they have.
I think a way to communicate with you directly is a great idea!
Look forward to upcoming topics!
I have a huge passion for demystifying the care we bring to patients via verbal and written communication.