If you would like to contribute an article, send an email with your ideas.  If you've got suggestions for how this space could be most useful to you and other people in your organizations - including a catchy title, please send those as well.

I'd like to generate ideas for a first column by sharing a quick story and then posing a question.  Last week, I met with a vice president for a large operator of hospitals and health care facilities.  He said a key focus for his organization in the next 24 months will be on strengthening relationships among three groups of people in their hospitals: Chief Executive Officers, Chief Medical Officers, and Chief Nursing Officers.  As he drew a triangle to represent the relationship between these positions, I began to wonder about the opportunities and obstacles for creating strong ties among these positions. 

If you're a CEO, CMO, or CNO, what are your thoughts?  What current and historical issues pose the greatest barriers to creating a sturdy 3-legged stool?  What are the opportunities, and how would you leverage them?  What would you do to bring these parties together?  What have you tried already that has (or hasn't) worked?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  Check back soon for the first installment of Health Care Update.

Mike