Approximately 125 top-level administrators from all six hospitals joined administration from Loma Linda University Health and the Faculty Medical Group to focus on the next wave of health care reform during a two-day retreat held January 18-19 in the Coachella Valley.
Fred Bayon, a representative from The Advisory Board, a national health care research and consulting firm, shared insights on how the delivery of health care is undergoing significant change. How Loma Linda University Health navigates these changes will determine the pathway to future success, he said.
The group also participated in a variety of team-building activities, culminating in a service project that served as a reminder of the real focal point of the organization’s mission.
The 13 administrative teams were assigned to assemble two bicycles, both a boy’s model and a girl’s model. One retreat attendee called this task “team building with a higher purpose.” The teams also ran the assembled bikes through an obstacle course to ensure each bike’s quality.
“We spent several hours learning about each other by working on creative challenges ending with a bicycle assembly project,” said Kerry Heinrich, JD, chief executive officer of Loma Linda University Medical Center. “This is part of growing together as a team, but it’s now our privilege to share the results of our efforts as we reconnect with former patients of our Children’s Hospital and give back to the community.”
The 26 bikes were intended for patients of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. Three Coachella Valley families were invited to the retreat, and the 12 children in those families were each invited to choose a bike. These children are former Children’s Hospital patients, and over the years their families spent many hours driving many miles to receive care at our facility. These children represent the many residents of the Coachella Valley who will benefit from the opening of the new Indio Outpatient Pavilion, which will begin serving the community in March.
The remaining bikes were brought back to Loma Linda, where they will be given to future Children’s Hospital patients.