There is a very neat program running in the south suburbs of Chicago...it's called Uncle Mary's. It's an amazing network of community health centers that offer healthcare, dental care, prenatal care, and even parenting classes and behavioral therapy to the self-pay population in the area. South suburban Chicago has so many social, economical, and political challenges and it's an area that requires almost infinite time and resources from neighboring hospitals. Uncle Mary's made a business out of this population and treats them without requiring payment. Of course, Uncle Mary's was recently deemed a federally qualified healthcare center, so now they get more in reimbursement from the government then we do!
St. Fozzie's had loose connections with this network for years and today, we firmed up the deal. Well, I sat and watched while our CNO and CFO hashed out the details with Uncle Mary's CEO! I deeply enjoy watching peoples' mannerisms, body language, and the way they use their hands to convey a point. I watched this for a while until I realized they were getting something accomplished at this meeting.
It sometimes baffles me that key strategic conversations can take place on a golf course or over a cocktail...especially because this conversation actually took place in the boardroom! Anyway, it's a very neat joint venture, one where St. Fozzie's will lease unused office space in the hospitals to Uncle Mary's. Uncle Mary's will then be able to treat the poorest of the poor without it harming St. Fozzie's bottom line. This seems counter-intuitive, but without a margin, there's no mission.
I quickly volunteered to help the consolidation and boom, just like that, we're in business together. I almost missed the agreement because I was so busy watching peoples' body language!
Note to self: PAY ATTENTION! Whoops. At least I wasn't watching traffic go by!
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