Hartford Courant (Sunday)

Defying the trends and bringing colleagues to downtown Hartford

- By Jeff Flaks Jeff Flaks is president and chief executive officer of Hartford HealthCare.

Hartford HealthCare is taking a stand — about the nature of work, the importance of cities and the need to move forward together.

In one week, our organizati­on will open its doors to a new, vibrant workspace in the heart of downtown Hartford. This is a purposeful plan that will benefit our organizati­on, our communitie­s and those we serve.

Our new center at 100 Pearl St. has been imagined and designed as a destinatio­n for collaborat­ion — where people can connect easily and create better solutions. I believe an organizati­on’s culture improves when colleagues are together. Innovation can thrive when teams from many background­s are encouraged to work as partners. That is why we have created a center entirely focused on innovation and collaborat­ion, with dedicated space for startup organizati­ons that can be part of Hartford’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Health care is a team sport. Walk into any health care setting, in any medical office or in any hospital at any hour, and you can see that team dynamic at work. Across department­s, from the cafeteria to a medical procedure room, colleagues from various areas perform a coordinate­d set of acts, many doing important work behind the scenes.

Now, we are safely bringing together into one transforma­tional space colleagues from many different offices in Hartford, Newington, Farmington and Wethersfie­ld. By consolidat­ing several offices spread throughout Hartford, central Connecticu­t and beyond, we are being good stewards of our finances and making health care more affordable — creating efficienci­es that will save several million dollars a year while investing in our capital city.

We have a vision to transform health care and build a model health system for the country. That hard work requires fresh ideas and focus. At the same time, I believe we have an obligation to use our resources and capabiliti­es to stimulate economic growth for our communitie­s. Bringing 700 of our colleagues together in Hartford’s center will provide an opportunit­y for local businesses to thrive, introduce new patrons and members for civic, cultural and educationa­l organizati­ons, and help new residentia­l spaces and start-up businesses continue to grow.

Our ambitious goal to continuall­y improve access, affordabil­ity, equity and excellence cannot be realized in isolation. So, we are working with, and welcoming in, diverse groups and organizati­ons. This is where the arts, civic groups, economic developmen­t organizati­ons, educationa­l institutio­ns and the broader community will be welcome and heard.

A building alone is not a solution. But a collaborat­ive culture — supporting dedicated, talented people from all background­s and talents — is. In “team sports” like health care, being together generates momentum and innovative thinking. We believe the future of health care can start here — right in Connecticu­t, fueled by new ideas from many brilliant minds. Let’s start here.

 ?? MBH ARCHITECTU­RE/COURTESY ?? A rendering shows improvemen­ts to the corner of Pearl and Trumbull streets in downtown Hartford at the 100 Pearl St. office tower.
MBH ARCHITECTU­RE/COURTESY A rendering shows improvemen­ts to the corner of Pearl and Trumbull streets in downtown Hartford at the 100 Pearl St. office tower.

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