Its Heating Up Real Fast

For the record, I am not a Summer person. I do not mean that in a fashion or color sense, I am mainly referencing my lack of appreciation for the HEAT of Summer. Give me a nice cool breeze on a fall day, or for that matter a nice snow fall with the temperature around 30 degrees is pleasant. That said I do love to see the type of heating up that is taking place around the Retail Initiative that many healthcare folks are generating.

There are some that have begun the process of appointing their own "Retail Czars" to handle the potential new revenue cycle. It is equally exciting to see that new hospital floor plans are now including allocations for retail space and staff service areas as part of normal design functions. More of the coffee/cafe programs we promote are now seen as welcomed additions to lobbies and atrium's that had only utilized the sights and sounds of water effects or many unused soft seats. The gathering of the physicians, nurses, executives and volunteers mingling with the visitors and patients is a satisfying vision of community and sharing. Such venues will continue to encourage and promote an improved staff/patient experience throughout the campus.

The approach to the realization of this vision is not a sprint, but a marathon. As is the case with any HOT topic or initiative, there comes a need for thoughtfulness and good planning to maintain and direct its energy to avoid a "snuffing out" of the flame. We have all witnessed great ideas and concepts that had the 100 yard dash approach to their roll out, only to pull a hamstring three quarters of the way into the race. We cannot risk racing to place product or venues just to fill a perceived want. There is a careful Discovery phase that is needed to help identify what the true need and purpose for services are. I wake up every day looking forward to assisting those that desire such careful handling of the valued resources and passionate service for their staff and the patients that enter their doors.