Like any health care organization, SEAHEC faces a number of challenges that include tight budgets, encroaching competition and competing priorities. Talk was hired to moderate three strategic planning sessions for a 15+ member leadership team that included administration, physicians, managers and board members.

Working closely with SEAHEC leadership, Talk created three strategic planning sessions entitled Diagnosis, Treatment and Monitor that were held over a 3-month period in Spring 2010. Talk created a PowerPoint for each session that provided a detailed agenda, ground rules for participation and a framework for brainstorming. In addition, Talk created an online survey for non-participating SEAHEC board members to solicit their input prior to Session One.

• A series of three monthly planning sessions included the following:
• Session One - Situational analysis - where are we now and how did we get here? Included a SWOT analysis and review of internal structure and external audiences, stakeholders and competitors.
• Session Two - Identified goals and objectives and prioritized top four. Brainstormed and prioritized strategies to achieve goals.
• Session Three - Reviewed strategies and created action plan to achieve goals within 6 to 12 months. Identified benchmarks and means to monitor action plan to ensure consistent progress.
• Session transcripts were emailed to participants following each session.
• Strategic goals and action items were emailed to participants following the final session

• Participants enthusiastically approached each session with strong opinions and creative ideas.
• Leadership participated, but did not dominate.
• Talk effectively managed sessions to ensure 100% participation and active engagement by all participants.
• The sessions strengthened SEAHEC's esprit de corps by giving all department heads an opportunity to work together toward common goals.