Trading Places to Expand

The two-month “Trading Places” experiment, in which Elkhart General Hospital President Greg Losasso and Memorial Hospital President Kreg Gruber exchanged offices, calendars and responsibilities, was an enormous success. It’s an experiment that both presidents want to see replicated in other departments. “We will likely have directors and managers shadow each other for a week at each location and then develop a couple of projects to standardize across the system,” says Greg. “This will also help break down some of the barriers that may exist, while also increasing efficiency and improving quality.”

Kreg echoes this sentiment. “It’s very valuable for developing trust and familiarity, which enables better work and decision-making,” he says. “Certainly there are already shared efforts that will gain even more momentum because of the bridges that we built over the last two months. Just the symbolism of making the exchange, cleared the runway for others to know that it is not only safe to work together, but also expected.” While scheduling conflicts and the seemingly never-ending onslaught of snow posed some travel problems, it’s an experience that neither Greg nor Kreg will forget anytime soon.

“I met many good people who are committed to providing the highest level of care in this community,” says Greg. “I found that while we do have differences, we also are similar in many ways, most notably our commitment and high-quality care.”

“Everyone at Elkhart General was welcoming and accommodating. I really enjoyed my time at Elkhart General,” says Kreg.

Who’s trading places next? Stay tuned for details.