Blog entries

GenPhilly Steps Up

Bob Groves — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:45:21 +0100

This is a shout out to some cool people and a group from which I have lately been drawing a bit of inspiration and hope. What’s cool is that they just forge ahead despite the absurdity and craziness that seems to surround us at every turn. As I sometimes struggle with cynicism or feelings of hopelessness about the state of the world (often as a result of just hearing the news), I find it helps to remember some newly emerging organizations, right here in our city. They seem optimistic anMore

Seeing Health Care Reform Through to Execution and Implementation

Natalie Levkovich — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:55:41 +0100

Even though the ink is barely dry on the new health care reform law, much analysis has already been printed and broadcast. So, while my opinion is not unique, I would like to add my voice to those who celebrate this sea change in our nation’s approach to health care by making insurance coverage near-universal and beginning the process of reforming insurance regulations. However, we must continue to have patience and perseverance. This is a beginning and not an end. Change in humanMore

Is the War for Talent still relevant in 2010?

Michael Wong — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:44:08 +0100

In 1997, the U.S. unemployment rate had fallen to a 27 year low of 4.9% and McKinsey’s coined term of “War for Talent” described the challenges that organizations were expected to have over the next 20 years with attracting and retaining staff. Fast forward to 2010’s global unemployment situation and many wonder if the “War for Talent” is still relevant.

On March 18th, Howard Levine from Heidrick & Struggles, Mark A. Mulvanerty from Korn/FeMore

Seniors and Health Reform II

Bob Groves — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:34:24 +0100

The health reform debate is over—sort of. Thank goodness the President was able to sign into law a version of health reform that has enough going for it that it feels like a positive development. That may sound like a lukewarm endorsement. For someone who in his heart of hearts wanted single payer and at the very least a strong public option, my “endorsement” does come with a partial lack of enthusiasm.

However, when considering the political culture in which we live More

Healthcare Students: One Solution to the Healthcare Crisis

Kerstin Palombaro — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:08:28 +0100

There are more than 46.3 million Americans who are uninsured.1 In the five-county region of Southeastern, PA, Philadelphia County has the highest uninsured rate at 14.1%, with the other counties uninsured rates ranging from 5.9% to 8.0.2 Uninsured status is a barrier to accessing and receiving care within the healthcare system.3 Persons of uninsured status often lack access to preventative and wellness screening; are sicker at diagnosis; and have poorer health outcomes than insureMore

Seniors and Health Reform #1

Bob Groves — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:57:23 +0100

In discussing older adults and health reform, I operate from a couple of basic assumptions. It is a GOOD thing that we now live longer, and to a major extent, healthier lives than any previous generation of Americans. For this we can thank improvements in public health, medical care, pharmaceuticals, and knowledge about diet/exercise as well as Medicare first enacted in 1965. And let’s not forget a generally robust economy over the last 60 years.

Another assumption is that if, asMore

Frustrated with the political process, but encouraged all the same

Caroline Ridgway — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:30:45 +0100

I am in Washington, DC this weekend for the annual American College of Nurse Practitioners policy conference. As you might guess, health care reform is a big part of the agenda. Many are disappointed that reform has not yet been achieved, and are unsure what the next steps are going to be. We heard a troubling statistic about how many Americans are forced to declare personal bankruptcy as a result of health care related costs. That and any number of other stats should be enough to encourage aMore

In the Loop

Bob Groves — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:11:29 +0100

The Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal is an exciting new venture. It is a timely initiative to identify and promote creative thinking, and hopefully, the implementation of really good ideas in public policy.. All of those involved want to better serve our city, our region and the millions of people who live here. So far, however, one of the largest and fastest growing segments of our population has been missing from the discussion. I am referring to our older adults, our seniors, the elMore

The bigger they are, the harder they fall...

Caroline Ridgway — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:12:42 +0100

Toyota has long been the gold standard among business world thought-leaders for how it has managed to exemplify a seemingly impossible collection of achievements: optimal efficiency, optimal quality, and optimal profit. As it turns out, Toyota's seemingly impossible success may be turning out to have been actually impossible. Without commenting too deeply on the issue, because I don't know enough about it to come to any reasonable conclusions, it appears as though something in theirMore

Health Care Reform: What Now? PA May Have the Answer

Brian Valdez — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:36:29 +0100

Did you ever watch those science fiction movies where someone goes through a black hole ending up in an alternative universe where everything is reversed? That’s a little bit how I felt when I woke this morning and found out that a republican had won Ted Kennedy’s senate seat in Massachusetts. My initial reaction was one of shock and awl. Why?... How could this happen?... Massachusetts hasn’t had a republican senate since 1979 and the last time a republican held this particuMore

Disruptively innovating charitable giving

Caroline Ridgway — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:09:48 +0100

I don't know if this strictly falls within the framework of "disruptive innovation," but I have been struck by all of the news accounts about the volume of charitable giving via text message since the earthquake in Haiti. At least one report I've listened to on NPR has referred to this trend as a "game changer" in how individual people can participate in charity. This is a great example of how technology can be leveraged and applied in innovative ways to simplify and enhance a practice More

IOM/RWJF Initiative on the Future of Nursing

Caroline Ridgway — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:44:06 +0100

I had the opportunity yesterday to attend the Forum on the Future of Nursing: Community Health, Public Health, Primary Care, and Long-Term Care, which was hosted by the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of a series those organizations are conducting. Following the conclusion of the series, a committee convened by the IOM will issue a report on elements such as:

"Reconceptualizing the role of nurses within the context of the entire workforce, the shortagMore

Thoughts on growing innovation in health care

Caroline Ridgway — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:10:06 +0100

I just stumbled upon a really interesting article published in the Online Journal of Issues of Nursing (under the auspices of the American Nurses Association), and wanted to share it on this forum. The authors (three nurses and one MPH/MBA) set out to discuss how process innovation is crucial to health care practice. It is always invigorating to know that these conversations are happening around the country. The article highlights several specific examples of how innovative practices are beinMore

Politics of Innovation -- Thinking about Science and Social Programs (Part 2)

David Castro — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:33:46 +0100

In my last post (Part 1), I raised some questions about the theory that social programming should be premised on scientific evidence. I raised the concern that erecting a science barrier around resources could threaten innovation, because only “proven” programs would receive funding, leaving potentially valuable ideas undeveloped, and resulting in self-fulfilling prophesies in which well-funded programs succeeded because of the resources garnered and the continued investmentMore

Politics of Innovation -- Thinking About Science and Social Programs (Part 1)

David Castro — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:31 +0100

Greetings. I am surprised to discover that my blog on the Politics of Innovation has become a kind of expedition. That is to say, we have covered some ground, and it might be getting harder to understand where we are now without knowing where we came from. So for anyone diving into the middle, I will offer a brief recount of the journey so far.

My thesis has been that political wrangling between the Right and the Left is stifling social innovation in America.&nbMore

The Politics of Innovation -- Elements of a Third Way

David Castro — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:30:13 +0100

Hello again! This is part 3 of a series laying out some ideas about the politics of social innovation. In part 1, on October 20, I described some differences between the fundamental ideological frameworks advanced on the Right and the Left. In part 2, on October 23, I worked to get inside the worldviews of the Right and the Left, describing their differing perspectives on concepts like freedom and equality, and how those perspectives affect the boundaries they place arMore

The Politics of Innovation -- Behind the Lens on the Right and the Left

David Castro — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:13:46 +0100

The entry builds on my last, “Opening Ideas” (10/20/2009), in which I laid out the certain elements of the competing ideological frameworks on the Right and Left in American politics. My general thesis is that these competing frameworks are stifling innovation. Today, I look more deeply into the similarities and the key differences between the worldviews advanced by each party, in an effort to explore ways to transcend the battle.

The Right and the Left ShMore

The Politics of Innovation -- Opening Ideas

David Castro — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:54:07 +0100

So according to webopedia, a blog is a publicly accessible journal that often reflects the personality of the author. Supposedly updated daily! Now that takes discipline.

I will definitely not be able to update this daily, but I guess it will inescapably reflect my personality. As Ghandi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.” So let me introduce myself.

My name is David Castro and I’m theMore

Family Practice & Counseling Network- replicable trailblazers

Mikaela Levons — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:05:06 +0100

I was taken aback at how difficult it was to gain access to primary health care when I moved to the United States in 2005. Even in the self-described "Health Care City" of New Brunswick, NJ-- home to Johnson & Johnson's headquarters, the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital system & St. Peter's University Hospital-- booking time with a medical doctor in a pinch was always a challenge. Parents who've needed a prescription on a weekend, or desperately wanted to ensure thaMore

CARIE's Approach to Elder Abuse is Inspiring

Sara Taveras — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:46:13 +0100

My family has recently dealt with choosing an assisted living facility for a family member. Through this experience, I have seen firsthand just how difficult a decision this is for the member and the whole family. It almost feels like a gamble - you have 50/50 chance of it turning out well, but you won't know until you've already made your bet.

Reading the article about CARIE really empowered me to start taking more seriously all of the rights that are available to our family. AlMore