List date(s) this work was published or aired.
15-May-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Providence Health & Services, a major West Coast health care organization, opened a new $460 million medical tower in 2011, its biggest-ever construction project. It was one of several health care organizations nationally making significant building investments in 2011. The story looked at the financial risks and potential benefits of such an investment.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I did background reading and research before beginning the project, but it did not require FOI or other public records documents.
Explain types of human sources used.
I wanted to set the context of this story locally, regionally and nationally and as such spoke to sources at all three levels, while not overloading the readers and viewers with “expert speak.”
Results:
We were trying to answer the questions being asked in the community: Why was this project begun? Why was it so big? How could it occur at a time when the economy had stalled or stopped many other construction projects?
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No correction or clarification
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with daily stories when any major construction project is nearing its opening. Plan ahead to think about the sources that can help put local stories in a national context for the trends in health care.