A neighborhood lemonade stand set up by Rachael Watman’s son and his friends reminds us of some valuable lessons about success. A neighborhood lemonade stand set up by Rachael Watman’s son and his friends reminds us of some valuable lessons about success.

My son and an enterprising group of neighborhood kids recently hosted a lemonade stand. They have done this in the past with modest success. This time, however, they outdid themselves by working as a team.

While my son and a few of the kids ran the stand, others rode their bikes up and down Main Street informing potential customers about the superior product to be had right around the corner. They also posted pictures on Facebook and scored their first delivery order to a local business owner.

Success, according to the kids, was not measured in terms of dollars alone (they are, in fact, pooling their money and will divide at summer’s end), but in terms of how much buzz they created, the number of customers served, how well they worked together (capitalizing on their individual strengths), and the fun they had.

Their definition of success reminded me of a few things:

  • Money is important, especially to catalyze action, but rarely is it the sole motivation.
  • Getting the word out is key, and has a significant impact on your process and product.
  • People work best in teams and thrive when given responsibilities tailored to individual skill sets.
  • Bringing people together toward a shared goal can be not only profitable, but fun.

Change_AGEnts_logoIn this spirit, we recently announced a new opportunity within the Hartford Change AGEnts Initiative: The Hartford Change AGEnts Action Communities (formerly known as the micro communities). We are offering $5,000 in seed funding to groups willing to form Change AGEnts Action Communities whose members are actively engaged on the Change AGEnts online platform and use this vehicle to catalyze practice change to improve the health of older adults. Visit our Change AGEnts online platform for full details. (Login required).

The Change AGEnts Initiative was created to connect the thousands of Hartford-associated researchers, clinicians, and health system leaders to accelerate sustained practice change to improve the way care is delivered to older adults, their families, and communities. The Change AGEnts online platform offers one way for these Hartford-affiliated leaders to connect. Here, AGEnts can complete their profiles and contribute to a robust searchable database by posting and participating in discussions within the Open Forum and by organizing more targeted, in-depth discussions and collaborative work through Action Communities focused on specific topics.

Change AGEnts Action Communities afford the opportunity to post published and developing research in the online library, to share personal experiences, and to make contacts in the field in an organized and easily accessible way. The online platform can also be used to rapidly respond to policy opportunities or comment on current issues.

Moreover, through the online platform, an Action Community has access to the collective wisdom of the broader Change AGEnts community via the Change AGEnts Open Forum.

Michael L. Malone, MD, speaks at the recent NICHE convening of the Health IT Action Community. Michael L. Malone, MD, speaks at the recent NICHE convening of the Health IT Action Community.

Michael L. Malone, MD, medical director of Aurora Senior Services and Aurora at Home and section head of geriatrics at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, and a team of colleagues recently formed a Health IT Change AGEnts Action Community focused on identifying opportunities to integrate evidence-based, geriatric models of care into the electronic health record (EHR). To accomplish that goal, the Action Community is working to define areas where geriatric models of care could be integrated into the EHR; build a community of professionals who have an interest in geriatrics health information technology; and develop projects worthy of funding.

Using their Hartford funds, Mike and the Health IT Change AGEnts Action Community hosted about 50 nursing leaders and five physicians at a NICHE convening in Florida last month. Participants worked in small groups to define challenges in implementation of geriatric models of care. These groups were charged with developing EHR innovations to address their challenges.

Future plans include:

  1. Defining the challenges that health professionals face in implementing and disseminating geriatrics models.
  2. Listening to health professionals as they provide innovative ideas on strategies to use the EHR to care for vulnerable older patients.
  3. Developing, implementing and assessing new EHR tools to help health professionals deploy their “best practice” strategies.

We encourage all Change AGEnts to consider submitting an application for one of the $5,000 Action Community awards. Here are some things you should know when putting together your application:

  • Composition – The composition of the Action Community members should align with the values of the Change AGEnts Initiative. Members must be interprofessional and include a minimum of five people (credit is given for size & diversity).
  • Timeliness/Relevance of the Topic – Action communities should align with issues that are the focus of current state and/or national attention, for which there is need and opportunity for change.
  • Clearly Defined Goals – The proposal should provide a plan of work with outcomes that are clearly articulated. Proposals must describe how the online community will serve as a collaborative platform for action on a specific and timely topic and how it will address improving health care for older adults and their families.
  • Budget - The proposal must include a budget template and short narrative. Funds must be used in service of the work/goals of the action community and may be used to plan in-person meetings, support teleconferences, and/or cover time for authoring posts, etc. No indirect funds will be allowed.

This funding opportunity is open to all Action Communities (even those that have members at the time of this funding opportunity announcement). Proposals are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 5, 2015 to changeagents365@geron.org for activities starting on July 1, 2015. We expect to fund six or seven Action Communities.

If you are interested in applying for funding and you are coming to the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) in National Harbor, MD, stop by our Action Community Roundtable on Friday, May 15th from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (National Harbor 6, Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center).

We will offer general information about the funding opportunity and provide a venue for people to network and discuss potential partnerships. Contact: Paul Smith 202-587-5882 psmith@geron.org

If you want to learn more about the Health IT Action Community while at AGS, please attend their convening on Friday, May 15, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chesapeake Room 7/8. Geriatrics leaders from Aurora Health Care will be facilitating this session. To allow individuals to attend other evening events, participants can attend discussions at either 6-6:45pm or 7-7:45pm (EDT). We encourage attendance by health care providers who have an interest in geriatric models of care and the electronic health record. Please RSVP to Patricia.maloney@aurora.org or call 414-219-7058 with your session preference: 6-6:45pm or 7-7:45pm.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Change AGEnts Action Community awards. The health care system is in dire need of reform. Bringing like-minded health care professionals together virtually can allow these experts to focus on making rapid systemic change in the way health care is delivered to older Americans.

Now is the time to make lemonade.