I am taking an “intermission” from the “Ripple Effect of Meaningful Use” series to reflect on “goals” a bit.

I have already blogged on the first few ripples (in my opinion):

1. Core Quality Measures
2. Patient Education Sites
3. Patient/Consumer Engagement
4. Diet Orders and “Free Text”

Now about those goals… I guess you can tell I am a mother.  One that enjoys the role.  I just took two of my children to college this past weekend. It just so happens they are at the same school.  Eight hours away.  Daughter and Son.  For me just connecting all of the dots for financial aid, correct sheet sizes, clothes, books (you can now rent them or buy them!) and the related quandary of details was my goal.  I cannot assure happiness, or success, or any other possible “wants” my children may have—but I can try to provide the framework.  It was for me a personal accomplishment—I let them make most of the decisions, provided advice when asked (and sometimes when I was not!) and doled out the usual “be careful” mantras that I could recite in my sleep. 

Luckily, my family keeps laughter and a sense of humor high on the priority list.  By Friday evening at 9:30, when I could barely complete decipherable sentences, we finally slowed down.  We then sat down to dinner, laughed at the “differences” between a college girl’s packing (which took up one entire car and half of another) and a college boy’s packing (you guessed it—the other “half” of the car!) and marveled how much college life has changed in three decades.

Turning Points in life have a way of providing perspective and this one did for me—that we do not give enough credence to the satisfaction of personal accomplishments.  There is no better “reward” than to realize a goal that took a great deal of planning, determination, and hard work.  Improving Health care is no different—provide a framework, accept that there will be challenges and maintain the determination.   And never give up.