When you have 4 to 5 hours a week and $0 to invest, how do you move something an inch that needs to move 100 miles? I’m talking about the unhealthy mess of our US healthcare system. Most would agree that it’s a long complicated journey to health for our system. As clinicians, caregivers, or advocates we want to make a difference and alter the healthcare system for the better. So where do we invest our time, energy, and money? It’s sobering to realize the imbalance here – it takes a lot to participate in any kind of health journey – personal, team or system. We still need to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, do our day jobs, and wash the dishes. We can be pretty unrealistic – our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Our desire is greater than our capabilities.
So, with 4-5 hours a week and $0 the best we can do is have a specific goal, assemble or join a team that’s fun to work with, make a plan, execute it, check if it’s doing what we want it to do, adjust as needed, and keep at it. And build bridges to people trying to accomplish something similar – learn from each other. It’s the same for caregivers, nurse managers, patient and peer advocates – anyone without deep pockets. It’s some variation of a few hours a week and $little to invest.
The hardest part may be finding a specific goal. So often people want to change the world. They’re full of the injustices, dysfunction, crazy-making insanities in healthcare. It’s hard to find that important inch with an outsized impact-a lever for better health. As you may know from my recent posts, I’ve settled on communication at health transitions as my focus. But it’s not an inch. It’s at least 10 miles. Then I downsized to person-centered #CarePlanning. Now maybe I’m down to one mile. Then I downsized to a minimum data set for person-centered #CarePlanning. Is that an inch? Not sure yet. Once you have a goal, assemble or join a team. Any of this advocacy, change work is tough. Especially if you want to persist. You need a team. A team that’s dedicated, bright, and fun. Don’t minimize the fun. Fun helps you recharge your batteries. Then it’s the basic who’s going to do what? When are they going to it? How are you going to track it, share it, and learn from it? Sounds like #CarePlanning, doesn’t it?
What are you doing with your 4-5 hours a week and $0? What’s your goal? Your team? Your plan? Maybe we can build a bridge? Comment here and let us know.
