It's our eighth hospital opening and it never gets old...the adrenaline build-up to opening, the nervous anticipation that everything will be done in time, the excitement and pride that happens when the first customers enter the hospital.
It always amazes me to look at the finished hospital and think about the first time I saw the site...whether an old and "sick" hospital, a former school, or an empty lot. In its past life, before its current reincarnation as a maternity hospital, the Bowenpally site was a giant warehouse used to store pharmaceutical products. And now it's pretty in pink! -- and poised to make a real difference in the community by offering high quality maternal health services at extremely low prices (Rs 2000 or $40 USD) to Hyderabad's low-income population.
I don't want to say our inaugurations run like clockwork, but due to the rock star team and frequent post-opening debriefing sessions, we're getting pretty darned close. The community's District Medical Health Officer inaugurated the hospital and officially cut the flower-adorned ribbons. Her advice to LifeSpring? "You must grow. We need more of you."
I couldn't agree more.
My favorite part of the morning is easily this:
I'm walking down the halls, admiring how spacious and luxurious our new hospital is, compared to older locations. Pictures of LifeSpring babies born in other hospitals adorn the walls, and I can't help but smile when I see how big our first Moula Ali baby has now gotten.
Walking towards me is Perimala, a spunky nurse with a contagious smile, who's Indian yet somehow looks Filipina to me. She pulls my arm and says almost breathlessly: "Isn't it beautiful?" -- she beams, "This is OUR hospital!!"
This one interaction completely made my day.
From the beginning, we've been struggling with how to build more ownership and empowerment at the hospital level to end the "corporate vs. hospital" distinction and build ONE LifeSpring. This gets all the more challenging as we scale up.
While we certainly don't have all the answers, the enthusiasm, ownership, and pride beaming from Perimala made me certain that we're well on our way.
And just in time, too! -- for the delivery date of LSH #9 is now less than a month away. Mark your calendars - September 16th.
You're all invited :)
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