I've been writing this blog for over 9 years, starting during my tenure as CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and continuing now over four years later. During that time, I've had a chance to tell many stories and express lots of opinions with regard to various aspects of the health care industry, and you have rewarded me with your readership and your comments. I am deeply grateful for that opportunity and for that connection with so many of you.
As my life has moved on, my other activities have evolved. While health care will always be an underlying interest for me (and anybody else getting older!), I am getting more and more distant from the day-to-day policy issues and industry struggles. There are other people who are better suited to write about those matters.
So, starting after the Labor Day break, I am planning to shift the focus of this blog to topics where I might be able to contribute to people in a broader range of industries and sectors. The focus will be on my core set of activities and interests--negotiation theory and practice, leadership training and mentoring, and teaching. Some days, clinical process improvement will be covered, as that subject overlaps all of those topics--but you will not be seeing stories about health care policy, industry structure, market power, and the like.
I'm also going to reduce the frequency of these posts, from the current daily schedule driven by current events to something more sensible (and personally sustainable!)
I'm hoping not to leave my health care followers behind, but I am hoping that others, too, will find the topics of value. Please continue to stay in touch and, as you have done so generously in the past, forward these links to others who might be interested.
Thank you.
40 comments:
Sounds interesting Mr Levy
You've been an important voice. I may still try to drag you back into health care discussions from time to time.
Best wishes,
Gary Schwitzer
Publisher
HealthNewsReview.org
Looking forward to reading your insights in these new (to the blog) areas!
Paul, congratulations, thank you, and best wishes on the next leg of your journey. Over these years, through this blog, you’ve inspired, challenged, provoked (ya, right!) and informed in a setting, anchored in transparency, which triggered much sharing and learning. At all times your overarching goal has remained clear: health and healthcare that respected and honored those that we are privileged to serve: patients, their families, staff, and our communities. Via this early and innovative vehicle (when many were asking—what’s a blog) your drive to eliminate harm and continuously improve quality was relentless.
Paul, I have enjoyed your writings and I look forward to new topics of interest from you relating to other industries. Of course I will continue to read always with an eye on how I can potentially apply the learning to the strategic of healthcare marketing in experience and engagement, after all its a process.
Will miss your daily reminders of how much better we can be. Happy to hear that you will continue at a slower pace. Enjoy.
Great!
Life is growth, even to the final days.
I'm finishing up Atul Gawande's latest book, Being Mortal - which is great, the guy is a treasure - and that's so clear. Not that you're near that point yet, it's just what I'm reading.
I will continue to be an avid reader and correspondent.
I will keep on following you. Your blog is in my bookmarks.
Wow!!! Big changes. It will be like sending a kid off to college. Still in touch once in a while but no longer any daily mentoring.
Wishing it works out even better than you hope.
I will stay with you…enjoy the stories of valuing introverts, how to persuade and learning from mistakes…helpful in any industry. Love the idea of expanding.
Say it ain't so!
Actually, I think that it will be great to read your thoughts on a wider range of ideas and issues.
You are an excellent writer with a great eye for story, so...you will likely fly, not crash.
I don't know how you have kept up your pace!
Amazing what you've done with it over the years and good luck as you and it evolves.
Thanks for letting me know about your new direction, which seems to promise a more humane lifestyle for you if nothing else. You've been a source of fresh, insightful and often counter-intuitive thinking on pretty much everything you've turned your mind toward. I'm sure this turn in the road will be no different.
Thank you for your years of insights which I’ve often found very useful. Good luck as you move onward.
Sounds great. Good luck with the new approach!
Wow. I'll admit, I'm feeling a sense of loss for me and your health care followers. You're always spot on on your blog.
We all evolve. My loyal readership will continue along with many others.
Wow. Big change but good for you, Paul! I'll miss my daily dose but I'll certainly continue to follow your blog. You've been an integral part of my day for a very long time, regardless of where I might have been at the time. You've been a great help to us here at Southlake. Best wishes to you from way up here in The Great White North!
Barry Nathanson
From Facebook:
Howard Luks: I'll be following along. Wise choice!
Larisa Munsch: I will continue reading. Interested in health care but ready to find out your thoughts about the other topics too.
Emily DeVoto: Sounds good, Paul...look forward! And good for you keeping it alive all these years.
Lynne Karan: Loved the piece on Hand hygiene and the reference back to the Wachter article. Accountability!!!
Amy Romano: Looking forward to it!
Amy Schectman: Will enjoy the broad set of topics!
Pamela Katz Ressler: I will be reading and commenting, Paul...congratulations for keeping your blog relevant and authentic for your evolving life and passions
Chris D Mitchell: Paul, I appreciate your parsing of the issues. Thanks for continuing to analyze life and share your thoughts. I refer to this as #agingbetter. Remember what that other old guy said about the "unexamined life?" Yeah? Neither do I at my age.
Thanks so much to you all for your kind comments and good wishes!
No matter where you write and what you write about I will continue to be one of your biggest fans!
Good Luck with your new focus and career. The advice and opportunities you write about are applicable to any industry. You’ll do great!
will you still be writing the blog for AthenaHealth?
While I wish you the best of luck, I am terribly sad to hear this. You have been a Godsend. I have used the links to the blog to hit people up on items, corporations should be following you because I ask things that you bring up.
There are practically no other people who write on this topic like you do. You have been an incredible resource. On top of this, you bring credibility to an area that truly needs it. I don't know of a lot of healthcare execs who have a lot of trust and the ability to turn things around. You are a shining light in that area.
Like others said, we have to drag you back some. You really need some proteges. Few have your morals.
Victoria
Because you are who you are, anything and everything you will write about and share with us will be interesting and exciting.
We ( I ) want for you what ever makes you happy :)
I can honestly say you entirely transformed my idea of what a hospital CEO could, and should, be like. And taught me a lot along the way. I look forward to new pearls. Many thanks.
I really look forward to your change of topic and expect to benefit from your insights. Enjoy the change--I believe proactive change in and of itself is stimulating and good for the soul.
Anon 12:30,
From time to time, like now. They have a group of about 30 contributors, so it isn't very often that I have a piece over there.
Anon 12:30,
From time to time, like now. They have a group of about 30 contributors, so it isn't very often that I have a piece over there.
As they say, the world moves on. Just stay interested and interesting.
I wish you the very best and look forward to continuing to read your blog. I find you inspirational and forwarding thinking. For those reasons I will continue to follow regardless of the industry you write about. At the end of the day what really matters is the respect, acknowledgement and appreciation leaders show towards employees for their individual contributions and dedication they bring to the workplace. You seem to have that innate ability to set the stage for employees to feel they matter and their ideas are welcome and valuable.
I really appreciated your work over the last nine years, especially in the healthcare and health policy areas. I've learned a lot from you. I will continue to follow your blog as it moves in a new direction and wish you the best.
Good luck to you on your journey.
From Twitter:
Fun days ahead for your followers! Sounds like a great mix to me. :)
From Twitter:
You totally screwed my day. Do you truly realize just how many people & companies I was passing along your gems too?
@nichollsvi So kind of you, thanks. Maybe the new stuff will help, too! Fond regards.
And thanks also to all the rest of you who've written!
From Facebook:
Ann DiNitto: Paul, I can only echo what I have read so far, but it is obvious that your opinions and thoughts on many topics are well appreciated and respected. I always felt that you had, and enjoyed a wonderful life......May it continue, even more so, at a more relaxed pace!
Elisa Speranza: Thanks Paul. Are you going to re-name it? There's so much positive that defines you, I always thought it a little odd that your blog was titled according to something you're 'not' doing. In any case, I'll look forward to what's next!
Nick Dawson: Wonderful to see your writing, voice and leadership broadening.
Mary Wehmeier: Congratulations Paul. Moving forward sometimes means a change. I will always value your opinion always. Stay in touch!
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn: I can't wait to read your next chapters. You were among the first bloggers in health/care, and a blogging pioneer I have looked up to. So, of course, I'm in. And love the fact that you continue to learn and grow and share.
And, no, I am not going to re-name it. I like the name, at least for now. It's still true!
Your creative insights will continue to inspire others no matter what topic you address. I have seen firsthand in the classroom your knowledge and passion for the focal areas you are proposing. Your strategic reflections during seminars and your compelling books have benefited all my students, whether they be undergraduate, graduate or executive. You have the gift of engaging and empowering others.
Paul--
I will miss your blog about health policy issues--always a source of information, and often an incredible 'fountain of inspiration'!
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