As you can see, I jumped at the first photo op I got and was also able have a short discussion with with her.
The impression I got was of someone dedicated to winning -- when not attending the various media events, or lending a helping hand (for example, with the Haiti reconstruction), you'd probably find her training hard for her next competition.
To me, she's not done until that gold medal's dangling...
This got me thinking about a comparison with our Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), the Central East LHIN (CE LHIN) -- you see, I'm yet to be convinced of the utility of inter-LHIN collaboration; to me, our LHIN's a huge bobsleigh team working to give the residents within its area of accountability, the most efficient healthcare possible. Sure, there are others (LHINs) in the Ontario healthcare system, so the whole idea is for the CE LHIN to acquire a place (and remain) on the podium for healthcare in Ontario.
I'd imagine that Shelley-Ann and Helen were aware of other competing teams from Canada -- I'd also hazard a guess that they weren't collaborating for ideas either -- they were too busy executing their own plan.
After the race (or at some other appropriate time), ideas may be exchanged, but during the competition, each team is sequestered -- the driver and the brake-person each concentrating on getting familiar with the nuances of the course.
So it should be with our LHIN -- we should be too busy trying to understand the unique requirements of residents to be involved with other LHINs, other than what's legislatively required.
Of course there will be opportunities for a meaningful exchange of ideas (for example, conferences and the like); Shelley-Ann and Helen probably had a discussion with the Kaillie Humphries/Heather Moyse team after the competition to ascertain what the latter did differently to win gold!
My point is that collaboration between LHINs may not be conducive to the proper execution of their respective mandates -- participants are predisposed to ensuring their "home team" comes off best; in Olympics parlance, I'm sure the Shelley-Ann/Helen team would rather win the gold medal and leave the silver for Kaillie and Heather!
Funny -- seems like the Premier McGuinty team may be thinking along the same lines because as I write, I'm hearing on the news that pay for performance is being legislated for Ontario hospitals: http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/803818--hospital-ceo-pay-to-be-tied-to-performance?bn=1 -- it'll be interesting to see what impact this has on inter-LHIN/hospital collaboration!
In the meantime, while I continue searching for ways to help improve the operation of my LHIN, I think I'll also check around to see if someone could come up with a functional neck brace/ornament for Shelley-Ann and Helen, 'cos wearing both the gold and silver medals simultaneously could sure end up doing some serious neck-muscle damage -- those medals are heavy!
Ernest A. James
President/CEO
Regal Informatics Inc.
