Collaboration with two big egos, by Carol Orndorff
Frank, or “the King” as he was known behind his back, was drafted out of near retirement to lead a new initiative for the Southeast region. Liza, who ruled the Emergency Department, was drafted to be his partner . Together, they were commissioned with launching the new medical model for short term acute care. Some called it the most important patient and value centered initiative of the year. Except that when I met them, they were battling each other on a daily basis. Both thought they were in charge, both knew they were right, and both wanted to have their way. Besides, weren’t they hired for their ideas and expertise? Liza and Frank were attempting to work together, but neither had really partnered with another professional to build anything for most of their careers. As a result, the doctors were angry at the nurses, the nurses blamed the doctors for the initial mistakes, and the executives were pulling their hair out, trying to get Frank and Liza to work together.