The word change

The word change can bring both excitement and concern. I wanted to share my past experience with a required change. Not long ago, I was involved in a mandated change to the perioperative dress attire policy, in the operating room. As these changes were being planned, there was not enough time spent anticipating the surgeon resistance that resulted. While the sections chiefs were made aware, other surgeons were clueless about the “what and why”, resulting in the resistance. This is a classic example of the importance of engaging stakeholders; in this case, not having done so was a huge barrier to sustaining the change. As a result, the change was undone. Boy, it is very hard to re-ring the bell, once it is un-rung. Class, as you undertake this Collaboration Café, reflect on your peer’s shared example and continue to discuss how to engage stakeholders, secure the resources needed, and the supports and barriers in an effort to sustain change within the context of complex systems. Dr. C