'Houses' help hospital departments tell their stories

Have you ever invited people over to our home? Of course you have. Your home tells a lot about you and those under your roof. It reflects your culture, passions and values. Scott Kashman It showcases what you want others to know about you--sometimes direct and often, very subtle. It is a place where you want to be and certainly where you want others to feel welcome--unless you really are not one to invite people over!

Over the next several months, all of our hospital’s departments will create their "story house" showcasing the following:

  • Alignment with our health system strategy and goals
  • Alignment with the hospital's operational priorities: safety, flow and experience
  • Integration of our optimal healing environment framework into each health system strategy, goals and operational priorities--this has been a way to really deepen people's purpose and remember their "why" they went into the healthcare field
  • Utilization of Lean as our management system
  • Implementation of the department's 90 day priorities--this is a much more engaging way beyond a 90 day plan that sits on the shelf.

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Ideally every employee, physician and volunteer will be able to speak to their own story and how they contribute toward these strategies and goals every day. That can only happen when they embrace and believe in their own story and understand how their work connects to the patient and our system goals.

It's not about being perfect or expecting that 100 percent of every single person could speak to your story and goals the same way. However, the more people who are engaged, the more reliable and consistent you will find your organizational culture and outcomes.

On a lighter note, one of our physician providers called me out, asking if the "house" in his department was my house. I let him know it was his. He then asked if I had anything to do with these houses, to which I replied, “that's a different question.”

Yes, I helped influence the use of these houses, yet they would only be effective when he considered it his own. He then shared that he commits to seeing patients at least twice during their visit, including a review of their test results. He said this would help with the patient experience. No doubt this will make his department’s 90-day plan.

How do you showcase your team's engagement where all could share their story?

Above images are courtesy of Cape Coral Hospital nursing directors Pat Crowe, Anna Marie McCarthy and Nancy Travis; Radiology Manager Peggy Santos; and Radiology Director Lynda Knox.

Scott Kashman serves as the chief administrative officer of Cape Coral Hospital, part of the Lee Memorial Health System in southwest Florida.