How Valuable is this Dialogue?

[Sue Van Patten <svp01@health.state.ny.us>]

A comment on the value of this dialogue.  I've read comments where some people feel that this dialogue is a waste of time.  I think how productive the dialogue is rests, to a large extent, in our hands as participants. I think that the more concrete, real, doable solutions people suggest the more changes we will see.  Let's face it, if someone has a solution in hand change will happen faster than trying to come up with the solution and then implementing it. I suggest to people that when they discuss a problem they try to also suggest a real solution (which some people already are doing and I think is great).  I realize that suggesting a solution may be difficult for some people because maybe for years you have been suggesting something you feel is reasonable and it has fallen on deaf ears.  I say try once more (I am an eternal optimist) because maybe the folks heading up this dialogue are the people who can make it happen.