Articles To help Project Leaders
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Wayne's week has been a whirlwind of activity.
1. The ICD-10 Summit, hosted by EDIFECS was fabulous. It was well organized and very helpful to create the framework for healthcare industry collaboration on ICD-10.
2. The highlight of my week was having the privilege of listening to Christi Bordeaux Dant speak at the ICD-10 summit hosted by EDIFECS. Wow! Christi is passionate about ICD-10 and with good reasons. Now, more than ever, I love ICD-10. It has gone beyond "manage another project" to "we are changing the world". Some of the reasons to implement ICD-10 are that we are running an enormous health care system in the USA based on 1970's regulations in ICD-9. Would you insist on driving a 40-year old Volkswagen bug if you had the option of driving a new Bentley? It is essentially the situation we are in, and apparently some people are fighting to keep the status quo. The status quo is the wrong thing now, if we are interested in lowering health care costs. iPhone versus walkie-talkie - which one would you prefer to carry in you pocket?
3. It is sure great to visit Florida in February. No getting around this one. It beats New England winter weather.
4. US Airways front line crew members did an outstanding job on my flights. Many good employees worked hard and as a team for us to depart on time, have pleasant flights and be comfortable. Having recently read about poor service on another blog, I paid attention to the service on my flights. It is the first time I have ever flown with US Airways. I am satisfied.
Particularly, the crew of US flight 1930 from Fort Myers to Philadelphia on Feb 17, 2012 impressed me. The flight attendants were very visible during the boarding process of an almost full plane. A young mother in front of me with two toddlers was trying to get all the bags and things that go along with toddlers onto the plane and into her seat. The attendants repeatedly offer to help with everything, including getting the bags on the plane and stowed away. I am impressed at the number of attendants in attendance and willingness to help.
Here are areas that US Airways can improve service. Firstly, it makes no sense to board from the front of the plane. All that happens is that the front passengers hold up everyone else trying to board. Have the passengers that are located at the back of the plane board first, then it will be faster to get all passengers on board. Secondly, encourage and incentivise passengers to check baggage and take smaller carry-on items. It is more efficient for everyone.
Of course, some of the airline industry management policies are laughable. The "Charge passengers for checked baggage" policy encourages passengers to take bigger bags as carry-on, which then requires them to take advantage of the complimentary baggage checking service at the gate because there isn't enough place on the plane, which then places extra work on everyone to get the bag checked in while you are boarding. For airlines, this is a backwards way of hurting yourself.
5. I thought that ICD-10 was a big deal. Now, after the ICD-10 summit, my eyes have been opened to the fact that I was wrong. ICD-10 is a bigger deal than I realized and the impact on all the players, consumers and patients that touch and benefit from the US Healthcare system is beyond my comprehension. Thank goodness for my profession of project management disciplines. By executing many projects and programs very well, we have a legitimate shot at implementing this change. I would be hallucinating if I proclaimed "Here is the plan we must follow." The changes are too many for a person to comprehend. Implications and ramifications will play out over the next five or more years. When people say "We have never done this before", don't take it lightly. This isn't like any other change. We need to do it, otherwise we don't get the benefits of reduced health care costs. The good news is that we have many smart and dedicated people who "get it" and are working on it.
6. I woke up at 2:22 AM on Friday morning. Hotel beds are hotel beds. With nothing interesting to do at this time, I opened the drawer next to the bed and found the black, hard cover Gideon's Bible. Instant flashback to high school years 1977, 1978, 1979 in Brakpan, South Africa. At the beginning of every year a Gideons representative would come to the school assembly, say something unmemorable and hand out a pocket sized, red Bible to every student. These are good people, doing good work all over the world, decade after decade. The impact of ICD-10 pales in significance to the impact Gideons have had on the world.
(I won't bore you with the details of my quest. I was looking for some thing to help me make a decision and the Gideons Bible referred me to James 1: 5 and 6.)
7. Of course, the South Windsor Public School system continues to be an embarrassment to all residents in my town. While I was in Florida conversing with thought leaders of ICD-10, I had to continue prodding administrators and teachers to take action on open issues, again, that are weeks old. Slothfulness is desirable when you have zero progress and are constantly reinventing the wheel, asking the same questions over and over again. After ICD-10, the next big initiative we need in the USA, is an overhaul of public school systems. There are parallels - our current healthcare system is too expensive for us to afford and doesn't deliver the correct healthcare to the patient at the right price. Our public school system is bureaucratic and allows 5% of poor performers to overshadow the good work of 95% of teachers trying to do what they are called to do - educate future generations of thought leaders. It is no wonder that we are losing ground to other countries who are working harder and longer to become better educated. (I wonder if it is acceptable to take more than three weeks to grade a mid-term exam in India or China?) I find it ironic that some teachers in this public school system are the most resistant to learning, especially about education.
This was some of my week. Tiring, exciting, inspiring and frustrating. Now, I am looking forward to a short vacation period and hopefully slip in a brewing session (or two) where my introverted "Green" MVS (Motivational Value System) can spend time in the happy place called "Wayne's World".
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