What in the world is a physician executive doing wasting time blogging when he could be seeing patients or recruiting much needed doctors, or even going for a hike? 
In any business (yes, we have to think like a business even though we're a non-profit) where change is happening rapidly, communication becomes ever more important. And in a fast paced world, communication is really difficult. It's hard to get people's attention; we all live in a world of information overload. Communication that is interactive is more appealing to some folks. We also live in a world that is much more flat (The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century).
The usual forms of communication in complex organizations often feel formal and inaccessible. At SVMC we use newsletters, both print and electronic, announcements at meetings, communications to departments. And management recognizes the responsibility to bring messages from front line employees up through to senior leadership for action. All of those methodologies work, but are not necessarily meeting everyone's needs.
So, I'm giving blogging a try. It's a new way that I can interact with anyone, literally anywhere on the planet. We can engage in a dialogue and comment about each other's views, proposals, or ideas.
This is an experiment in exploring the organization and its relationship to the outside world in a new way. Improving understanding and dialogue enhances our ability to plan for the future, and reduces organizational barriers. Let me know what you think.