We'll have to make our own path, but there are lots of navigators wanting to help us!

Those who aren’t in education – and some in education that just don’t “get it” – often lament that our educators have had to take on the roles of social worker, cook, life coach, friend, parent, clothing supplier, psychologist and wear many other hats. They are being pulled in too many directions to teach. But those who truly understand how kids (actually all humans) learn is interwoven with so many other aspects of their lives. Learning isn’t isolated from the rest of their lives. These other ways kids need to be cared for certainly present challenges, but they aren’t distractions. They are the keys to real education and growth.

For far too long, we in health care have ignored the research – or thrown our hands up – that has told us we can’t cure people just by treating signs and symptoms. There are still many who still fight it, but the momentum from researchers and payors pushing us has finally become too strong to resist. Maybe we had to be pushed, but make no mistake we are well past the edge and are falling fast into the world of population health, whether we like it or not. So what now? To stop the free fall we need to find sky hooks, grab ahold of a branch, find a soft spot to land…. I’m using multiple metaphors because it’s going to take multiple solutions. There won’t be any silver bullets, but I think we have already discovered a few varieties of special sauce. There is a massive body of research and many of innovators already leading the way. For example, in her work and in this enlightening TED Talk, Susan Pinker explains the real reason women live longer than men almost everywhere around the globe. She is speaking loudly and clearly to those of us concerned with population health – IF we’re ready to listen. Watch this and share it with a friend in health care. If that person’s reaction is, “We can’t manufacture friendships for clients” or “It’s not our place to play social match-maker” or anything that doesn’t sound something like “Wow. Okay, what can we learn from this? What can we try….” Well, that friend won’t be leader helping healthcare get to where we need to go. Don’t discourage your friend too much, we’re going to need all the help we can get and we all won’t be leading. But these are not the voices we can count on for inspiration. Find “educators” who “get it,” and are inspired by the challenge, even if they are not sure yet how to get there, and maybe even a little afraid. Assure your friends we’ll bring them along and there will be plenty of places for them if they’re willing to change. But resistance is no longer an option. It’s time to listen to the research and get moving! Exciting times indeed!Listen to this!Please watch this Pinker TED Talk!