There’s an App for That! (OBTW, YGLT)

1876 – “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” — Western Union internal memo.

1943 – “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM.

1957 – “I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” — The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall.

1977 – “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp.

Keeping up with technology is never easy. Just when my VHS collection is complete, it’s time to switch to DVD’s. Then I master my palm pilot and the smart phone hits the market. And OMG, I won’t even start in on the teens and their texting! And now there’s Facebook, Skype, Foursquare, Twitter and even Google+ to add to the mix.

When I first started working at Inova, there was no email. Can you imagine? For me, one of the first noticeable benefits of email was easy access to phone numbers. Before email, phone directories were printed, distributed in a small 3 ring binder and were constantly in need of being updated. A person could easily spend 15 minutes tracking down a phone number for a director in IMC. Imagine if Inova had been too afraid to make the leap and accept email as the new way to conduct business. Maybe we were too afraid of change or didn’t think the added cost would be fiscally prudent. Is this a hospital you would want treating you – a hospital without the foresight to invest in email?

One of the problems we have in marketing ourselves is being able to differentiate what it is that sets us apart from our competition. Everyone claims to have the latest and greatest in technology. We have the daVinci robot, the hybrid operating room and the Nanoknife. And now we are getting ready to launch EpicCare, our new electronic medical record system to integrate Inova system wide to improve the overall quality, safety and efficiency of the health delivery system. One of the most strategic investments is in information technology because it will improve patient safety and lead us into the future of healthcare. So, what is it that sets us apart from the competition?

It’s that we strive to be the leaders. We don’t want to be the “me too’s.” We aim to be in the front setting the standards by which others follow. But we are only able to do this with support. Support from the community, our donors, politicians, but most importantly, in my mind, support from our staff. We have pulled some of our best and brightest from across the system to help in customizing and bringing EpicCare on board. A few of these folks have used EpicCare at other facilities but most are learning as we go. We are receiving valuable input and suggestions and are working hard to customize this new software program to fit our specific Inova needs to a tea. I am so grateful for these folks that have stepped up to the plate, for it is this type of dedication and commitment that sets us apart.

I’ll close with another quote, this one by Bill Gates: “If I’d had some set idea of a finish line, don’t you think I would have crossed it years ago?”

Onward, upward and happy tweeting.

Out and About With a Few Friends

What a fine day it was for a picnic! As you can see by the photos, many system folks came outside for a few hours of fun and fellowship. As I walked around chatting with people, I couldn’t help but think of the (in)famous Gallup question, “Do you have a best friend at work?” Whenever I’m able to break away from my routines and take a few moments to socialize with others, I always walk away uplifted.

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A friend of mine who has a very isolated office at one of our hospitals shared the same sentiment. She said that whenever she really needs a pick-me-up, she walks from one end of the campus and back again. By the time she returns, she’s typically chatted or at least exchanged “hellos” with ten or so people. She then returns to her desk feeling just a bit more connected and valued.

Quint Studer talks about “purpose, worthwhile work and making a difference,” and that organizations can create momentum for change by engaging the passion of everyone. I was reminded of the importance of taking a break and spending time with others as I enjoyed a bite to eat, watched folks cake walk, have caricatures drawn and chat up a storm with neighbors.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of our very busy lives we forget to take that moment to breathe and remember the importance of recharging our own batteries so we can better serve our community. Since we are the only ones who can manage our own morale, I encourage everyone to look for the opportunities in your facility to spend a few moments with your friends.

Guest Spotlight: Dr. Marshall Ruffin

Quiz time – what type of music would you expect that Dr. Marshall Ruffin listens to while driving? Dr. Ruffin is leading the charge in bringing EpicCare on board. EpicCare is the electronic medical record system from Epic that we are rolling out in alignment with our Vision 2015 program.

Because he can explain this better then I can, I asked him to submit a guest post. Being our Chief Technology Officer, he went one step further and conjured up a video. So, back to my question … opera? classical? Have a look and you’ll be as surprised as I was!

You can learn more about this program on the EpicCare website on InovaNet.

Have You Seen Matt?

Most patients don’t want to return to the hospital after being discharged. However, if you happen to be in the emergency department at Fairfax, you may just run into one of our former and more notorious patients, Matt Stasik.

Matt was a patient on our pediatric oncology unit from the age of 14 to 17. Wow, what a tough age to have to spend so much time in the hospital. Shots, chemotherapy, no hair and having to miss out on so many high school events. While most of his friends were at football games, hanging with friends and just maybe, hoping to find a date for the prom, Matt was spending the majority of his time with Inova nurses and physicians. How could a guy like that even have a chance at finding a date? Turns out it’s easy when you have a personality like Robin Williams and a heart the size of Texas. It’s also easy when you have caring, dynamic staff like we have at Inova. Matt found not only one date to the prom, he actually escorted five of his oncology nurses to prom that June evening in 2003.

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The local media loved this story and Good Morning America picked it up as well. Diane Sawyer was so taken with Matthew’s personality and bravado in fighting his cancer, she said that if he ever attended another prom, she hoped she might be his date. It didn’t take long – the following year Matthew escorted Diane and his five nurses to Inova’s black tie gala in Washington, D.C. He arrived in black tie with a top hat and cane along with a grin from ear to ear. Diane had such a grand time that evening that she was one of the last to leave the dance floor.

Matt today in the ED

So why do I bring this old news up now? The Washington Post Magazine has a column called, “Whatever happened to ….?” Several weeks ago the article was entitled, “What ever happened to … the teenage cancer survivor?” And as I alluded to earlier, the post reporter didn’t find Matthew on the oncology unit – he beat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and then leukemia. They didn’t find him at Penn State University – he graduated. They found him in Fairfax’s emergency room where he works full time as an EMT while studying to become a paramedic and perhaps later attend medical school.

I am beaming with pride because this story reminds me why we strive to hire and retain the best at Inova. Matt turned the negative into a positive. He never gave up. His humor got him through the tough times. I am beaming with pride knowing that Matthew received such excellent care that not only did he survive, he thrived. I am beaming with pride knowing that Matthew thought enough of Inova to return as a member of the Inova family. And finally, I am beaming with pride that we have hired another employee that has what it takes – strong clinical skills, empathy for our patients, and an overall positive outlook on life!

I’ve Been Squashed

By “Jacques” Knox Singleton

By now you may have heard that Inova Fairfax Hospital recently held a CEO celebrity cook-off and “Wolfgang” Reuvan Pasternak and his Stuffed Peppers outsold my Squash Casserole by four plates. Since I’m always looking for ways to improve, I went to some outside experts for advice on how to increase my odds in any future contests. Emerile Lagasse suggests I “kick it up a notch,” so perhaps I’ll add a dash of Tabasco sauce to my recipe. And France’s famed Monsieur Pepin suggests I change my first name to Jacques for that international French appeal. Maybe I’d have won with a more “traditional” southern recipe. You know the kind, “start with a pound of butter …”

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Well, scratch that, I probably wouldn’t have been allowed to enter because this contest was about green – going green, shopping green, eating green and contributing to our green initiatives here at Inova, which is where the proceeds from this event will be used. A native American proverb, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children,” reminds us of why our efforts are so important.

I asked Seema Wadhwa, our Sustainability Engineer (fancy title for our Going Green Guru), for her proudest accomplishment to date. That’s not an easy question because we’ve had so many accomplishments these past few years, but she thinks maybe its reducing one million pounds of regulated medical waste in one year. Let me repeat that – one million pounds (that’s the same weight as five hippos!). Wow! At a savings of $230,000, I might have to agree with that assessment! You can learn more at www.inova.org/sustainability.

So for now, I’ll concede that the CEO of IFH wowed the crowd just a tad more then I did, but I’ll be back at the Farmer’s Market this weekend. Apple season is just around the corner and we southerners can whip up a mean apple cobbler, minus the pound of butter of course!

Where in the World is Knox Singleton? (week of 9-12-2011)

Hello!  My name is Carrie Rich and I work with Knox as the Director of Vision Translation.  Part of what I do is connect leadership with colleagues, including you!  You can do your part to connect with Knox and the leadership team by reaching out in person.

> Tuesday, September 13th: Knox will be rounding at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital rounding
> Thursday, September 15th: System Office Picnic – enjoy a picnic with the entire executive team

Have a great week!