Innovators of the Month: November 2014

soc-inn-nwi-logoThis issue of "NWI Innovators of the Month" highlights the IU Health LaPorte Hospital Team led by G. Thor Thordarson, President/CEO and the NWI Paddling Association led by Member Dan Plath. This issue is designed for the media serving Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke Counties. The Society celebrates Fellows, Chanute Prize and Accelerating Greatness recipients, but also recognizes other Members of "The 2013 - 2014 Class." The Society shares inspiring stories of innovation in each monthly edition. The Society is part of the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center of Ivy Tech Community College Northwest. For information, contact O'Merrial Butchee, Director, Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at (219) 981-4942, or John Davies, Assistant Director, at (219) 981-1111, Ext. 2292.

IU Health Team Pioneers "Fair & Just Culture" in Northwest Indiana!

Thordarson-Thor

In pursuit of a high quality and safe environment for patients and colleagues, Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital has created a fair and just culture that stresses fixing processes rather than blaming employees, said G. Thor Thordarson, president/CEO, IU Health LaPorte Hospital. In shifting from a "blame culture" in which employees are typically criticized for errors, the quality reporting system invites employees to report problems so they can be solved collaboratively. In addition, the hospital is creatively using the tools of LEAN Six Sigma to achieve results in quality and safety. For example, teams have been meeting in "rapid improvement events," where they spend a full work week focusing on a single opportunity for improvement, with the goal of implementing the action plan in 30 days. "Our approach is to identify a reason for action, find solutions, and improve processes, creating standard work that becomes the new way forward," he said. The LEAN program was launched by members of the executive team about five years ago. It is driving a cultural transformation that puts the patient experience at the center of all work. The hospital has seen patient satisfaction scores rise, costs to the patient and the health system come down, and utilization decrease while quality of care increased. Financially, the hospital has doubled net revenue over the last six years. Moreover, IU Health La Porte Hospital has received national acclaim from AARP, Consumer Reports and other media for its blame-free culture involving 1,500 employees at more than 40 sites in five counties. "We truly appreciate the national recognition, and will continue to focus our efforts on creating the best patient experience," President Thordarson said.

NWI Paddling Association Puts Region on Nation's Map!

Dan-PlathTurning clogged rivers and underutilized waterways into paddling destinations, the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association put the region on the nation's map, said Dan Plath, president and co-founder of Indiana's only non-profit paddling association. Over 165 miles of waterways have been developed by the 600-member club that received the top national award from the American Canoe Association. Organized and launched in 2009, the idea of new ways to explore Northwest Indiana came to Dan in the early morning hours. One of his best ideas was the Burnham to Marquette Water Trail Expedition in cooperation with paddlers in Chicago. The idea of paddling along the shoreline from Chicago to Michigan City was to draw attention to establishing the Lake Michigan Water Trail with rest stops along the route. This idea of a 1600 mile trail was so audacious it led to national and regional coverage. This event in 2009 resulted in the national designation of the first 75 mile leg of the Lake Michigan Water Trail from Chicago to New Buffalo. Other plans include a second water trail involving the Little Calumet River in the National Lakeshore and surrounding communities. Yet another is bi-state initiative to win national trail designation for the 133 miles of the Kankakee River. "We want people to appreciate and become good stewards of our water assets," Dan said, who is a principal for NiSource in the Environmental, Safety and Sustainability Department.