Recently, I spoke at a national technology conference on operational excellence. In talking with attendees from high-tech firms, many spoke to me about the enormous potential rewards of being "first movers," or companies who are first to market with an innovative new product (Apple's iPOD for example).

To me, the essence of being a first mover means much more than being first to introduce a new product (which may or may not succeed depending on market conditions). It describes any organization that is quick to test new practices and ideas that show promise for delivering great rewards as defined by the organization's mission and vision. Because first movers understand they have the opportunity to change the industry landscape, they aren't afraid to be out ahead. As the saying goes, "A rising tide lifts all boats."

In health care, sometimes as I talk with administrators and other leaders about new ideas, one of the questions they ask me is, "Who else is doing this?" Yet, I notice that physicians want to be first to cure a disease. Pharmaceutical companies want to be first with a new medication that makes a difference.

In this issue of Hardwired Results^TM, I invite you to consider nine innovative strategies that first movers from Studer Group'ss national learning lab are using to get break-through results. Because we work with so many great organizations, we have a unique opportunity to harvest such ideas, refine and test them in other organizations, and now we'd like to share a few with you. The strategies featured here range from new ideas just incubating to well-defined strategies that have been field-tested in Studer Group partner organizations as well as other hospitals for break-through results.

If you would like to benchmark an organization that's using these strategies successfully or want to share what's working well in your organization with others, please contact us and we will connect you. Be a first mover and help make health care better everywhere.

Yours in service,

Quint Studer
CEO, Studer Group
Quint@studergroup.com

Studer Group encourages
you to share your comments,
feedback, and suggestions.
Please send comments to
Quint@studergroup.com

Click here for larger graph