Madison. For me personally, you are synonymous with nostalgia for a time when I had fewer responsibilities, a lot of fun, and was just learning to navigate the adult world. You’re good for that. And cheese. Madison, you are good for cheese. Every time I head back, which admittedly is not too often any more, I take some time to be grateful for the lucky breaks and pursued opportunities that my time with you has afforded me. As I circle the belt line on my approach into town, I’m reminded of your growth. As I circle the square, I’m reminded of your quaintness. It’s nice to be back, Madison.
This last time through, for UGM 2019, I set aside significant time for collaboration with my new colleagues as we maintain our thoughtful focus on a foundation for Downshift to Be the Change in HIT. Positive energy is infectious! I also packed my schedule with time to meet up with old friends and colleagues. The people from my time in Madison who have come into, passed through, and gone from my circle had so much to offer last week. And to a T, they were all SO generous with their time.
It’s amazing the insight and life experiences that were shared over a couple 7:30am coffees, the inspiration and connectedness that surprised me from a game of horse, and the unadulterated joy that rained down on us thanks to good company, good vibes, and good conversations throughout the week.
What makes this place, this conference, different? The closer connection? The safe, supportive environment? In my mind, everyone is bonded by experience — whether it’s the time spent at the Great Dane, the shared experiences of chaotic Go Lives (controlled, of course), or perhaps most universally the jaw-dropping astonishment at the growth of the Verona campus. Any and all of these paint the back drop of our bonded experiences with hues of ‘we’re in this together’ and ‘we’re going to make a difference if it’s the last thing we do’.
So with the scene set, what did we pick up on over the course of the week?
Everyone is Trying To Operationalize the Data.
For years, the front-end reporting tools have been catching up to speed. We’re thrilled to see the recognition of their usability and workflow, along with their simpler UI, gaining significant traction. We see, hear, and live the focus these pop health and value-based operationalizations require. If you’re among the many interested in an assist, in coming weeks we’ll deliver a white paper on the ins and outs you’ll need to be successful. Easy. Maintainable. True operationalization of data.
There’s a Talent Void in the Value-Based Analytics Space.
The resources folks are looking for - the report developers who easily balance top of the line technical capabilities with industry leading executive communication skills - are diamonds in the rough. We believe in judicious deployment of their skill sets to establish strategy and provide oversight. Can we help with some of the heavy lifting? Sure! But we can also share and teach best practices as they relate to finding (and growing) this talent at your organization. More to come from us on that as well.
People are Facing Challenges that Can Be Traced to Our Shifting Tides
Traditional objectives have coalesced, generating ripples throughout organizational hierarchies. To that end, Downshift is committed to being a better, louder voice aimed at helping our community members find and own a greater purpose. We are going to do our part to pay it forward and what we can to get people to where they need to be — even those who may have some warming up to do. We’ll begin including regular, Downshift-produced content in our Newsletter, aimed at helping all of those out there who are ‘looking’ - for a job, for inspiration, an outlet, a roadmap, you name it - to find it in this ever-changing HIT world!
So, with all that said, stay tuned on social media. Sign up for the newsletter. Drop us a line from time to time. Or do all three!
Thanks Madison, and thank you all, for inspiring us.
- C.J.
P.S. - If you feel so inspired…please share this to your preferred social platform using the buttons below. Let’s expand the community together and keep the conversation going.
