HGTV

One of my crazier, yet oddly fun, assignments lately has taken me into the world of construction management.

It's my first real forray into any sort of construction, let alone demolition, renovation, and rebuilding- not to mention the least-organized processes I've ever seen to access the funds to let me do the first three things!

It's an opportunity! Not a frustration or complication.

[Yep, that's what I keep telling myself!]

It's been straight-up fun to meet with the architects and design the new spaces, imagining what the finished product will be. And picking out paint, counters, laminate, flooring, fabric, and furniture? Awesome.

I feel like I should have a design show on HGTV..."Hospitals Impossible." Maybe "Trading Hospitals?" Oh, how about "Million Dollar Clinics?"

All the planning is fun, particularly when I regularly took the updated drawings and plans back to the staff for feedback. They're the ones that have to live with my decisions- why should I have all the fun? They've added tweaks and improvements to make the work spaces workable and best for our patients.

The part on which I was (and still am) completely clueless? The operational process of moving a department. I had no idea the number of pieces and people had to be involved in the building, moving, and closing of a clinic. I guess it's one thing to build a clinic, another to relocate, and yet another to close one. Add all three together and you have a recipe for madness.

Or maybe just margaritas.

Regardless, since I have THREE of these separate projects going on (my Diabetes/Bariatric center, complete restructuring and relocation of inpatient dialysis, and from-the-ground-up building and furnishing of a continuity clinic - kind of like a medical home, where uninsured patients can come and see the same doctor repeatedly for ongoing, follow-up care), I feel like I'm moving three monster households at once.

You know what it's like to move- when you have no idea where you packed your coffee pot or where in the world your heating pad went- you try to keep pushin' on. Having three departments like this is getting a bit hairy and I've had to start faking my peace and serenity.

The first step in that direction was to get a lavendar vanilla air freshner for my new office.

Second step was to increase my frequency of massages from once a month to twice a month.

Third step was to order my affected employees chair massages. I'm trying to be that cool boss who cares about her peeps...and it's going to be Spa Day at St. Fozzie's soon.

I know they'll appreciate it. And I know they've earned it!!