In Sustaining our Learning Community we seek to maintain and build our networks and establish collaboration while looking for ways to strengthen the Healthcare Industry in the Mid-Michigan region. Sustainability of the Healthcare Learning Community does not mean unlimited growth; but rather it is the enhancement of what already exists. The Learning Community is comprised of a core group of dedicated individuals who represent a wide variety of organizations from within the Healthcare Industry. Participants agreed that these shared interactions have built upon their industry knowledge and networks. Post forum collaboration has been occurring as a result. Further, participants believe that they would benefit from sustaining the MMIT Healthcare Learning Community beyond the Mott Foundation Grant period, which ends June 30th 2008, for the following reasons:

• Information is power!
• Important information has been taken back to organizations and communities with the intention of replicating the excellent examples of Promising Practices presented at our forums.
• Local networks and relationships have been formed.
• Regional networks and relationships have been formed.
• Networks have been created from across all sectors of the Healthcare Industry.
• Networking requires a venue for collaboration. The LC provides the venue.
• Challenges have been identified and solutions are "brainstormed" at these forums.

Frequency of the forums was discussed. Participants felt that quarterly meetings of this core group of dedicated individuals worked well and felt that an annual, full day, larger group forum would be of benefit to the region as a whole.

It was suggested that after the Mott Foundation grant ended that the participant organizations could take turns hosting a meeting. The host organization would provide the space, pursue speakers recommended by the group at the past meeting for presentation of promising practices, draft an agenda and facilitate the meeting, thereby reducing the staff time and additional costs of this forum. The question was asked: What would the duties of the person organizing a learning community meeting entail? The answer is that question is that the duties surrounding the meeting itself are minimal, they include:

• Identify one person within the host business to organize the forum
• Make contact with the promising practice presenters to schedule their time and identify their needs for the presentation and provide for these needs, i.e. equipment needed
• Prepare photocopies of event materials to be presented or ensure that the presenter brings copies of materials to distribute
• Email a "Save the Date" at least three weeks prior - All participants should have a database of participants to work from
• Email a reminder and request for RSVP to organizer
• Secure space for the meeting
• Arrange for refreshments
• Prepare an agenda and ensure that promising practices for the future meeting are identified for the next host organization
• Facilitate discussion

The downside of this option is that there are many other duties of the Healthcare Learning Community Coordinator beyond the forums that are required to ensure continuity. This forum is a small but very important piece of the learning community process.

It was also suggested that Champion Norma Hagenow approach a regionally centralized, industry neutral organization to inquire if the Healthcare Learning Community might be absorbed into its organization. The learning community may align well with the work and mission of that organization. Norma agreed to approach that organization.

We talked about this website continuing to be the "hub" of information for this forum. Participants said they did check the website on a regular basis. The website appears to be an important component to the learning community and therefore worthy of sustaining. The Healthcare portion of this website could be copied to another organizations website.

A suggestion was made of seeking out additional grants to sustain the learning community. One specific RFP mentioned is being researched and will be reported out to the group at our next forum in May.  Additional information on the date and time of the next meeting will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Return to: February 5, 2008 Healthcare Learning Community Forum