"Get the ball rolling" - Healthcare

To initiate action or start something in motion.

History

The early beginnings of the idiom "get the ball rolling" are unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the practice of rolling a ball to start a game or competition. In the American business world, it has evolved to mean initiating action, getting a process started, or setting things in motion. The idiom has now become a popular way to encourage colleagues to take action and move forward with a project or task.

What is the Meaning?

The idiom "get the ball rolling" signifies the act of taking the first step to initiate action, begin a process, or start a project. It is used to convey the urgency of getting started and to encourage others to take action in various business situations.

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Illustration

Imagine a large ball on top of a hill, which requires a little push to get it rolling down the slope. This visual metaphor represents the initial effort needed to start a process, after which momentum builds and the project moves forward with increasing speed.

Healthcare Context - How to Use the Idiom

In the healthcare industry, "get the ball rolling" is commonly used to describe the beginning of processes such as launching new medical initiatives, starting a research project, or initiating a patient's treatment plan. Here are some example sentences of the idiom used in various business contexts:

1. We need to get the ball rolling on implementing the new electronic health records system.

2. The hospital administration has decided to get the ball rolling on the construction of a new wing.

3. Our team must get the ball rolling on the clinical trial as soon as possible.

4. The marketing department needs to get the ball rolling on promoting our new healthcare services.

Compare Sentences

Without idiom: We should start working on the new healthcare policy.

With idiom: Let's get the ball rolling on the new healthcare policy.

The sentence with the idiom is more engaging because it adds a sense of urgency and encourages action, making the message more effective and memorable.

Over to you - Using the Idiom in Conversation

How would you use "get the ball rolling" in your business conversations? Try to think of situations where you could use the idiom. Consider reading this scenario aloud and recording yourself speaking to experience a more effective way of practicing the idiom. Here's an example to get you started:

Conversation

Scenario: A team of healthcare professionals is meeting to discuss the implementation of a new patient management system.

Nurse Manager: As you all know, we've been struggling with our current patient management system. I think it's time to get the ball rolling on researching and implementing a new one. What are your thoughts on this?

Physician: I agree. Our current system has caused delays in patient care and increased paperwork. We need to find a more efficient solution.

Healthcare Administrator: Absolutely. Can we form a task force to identify potential vendors and gather information about their systems?

IT Specialist: I'd be happy to lead the task force. Who else would like to join?

Nurse Manager: I will join your team. Great! Let's plan to reconvene in two weeks to discuss the findings and make a decision.

Gap Fill Exercises

Add the idiom "get the ball rolling" to blank spaces in the following sentences:

1. The pharmaceutical company needs to ___________ on developing a new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

2. To improve patient satisfaction, we must ___________ on revising our patient intake process.

3. The healthcare organization should ___________ on their outreach program to attract more donors.

4. The research team needs to ___________ on analyzing the clinical data to submit their findings for publication.

Quiz: Mastering "Get the Ball Rolling" in Business Contexts

What does the idiom "get the ball rolling" mean?

a) To slow down a process

b) To initiate action or begin a process

c) To complete a task

d) To make a decision

In which industry context is this sentence appropriate? "We need to get the ball rolling on implementing the new electronic health records system."

a) Construction

b) Information Technology

c) Healthcare

d) Finance

Fill in the blank: "The marketing team should ________ on the promotional campaign for our new medical device."

a) get the ball rolling

b) drop the ball

c) keep their eyes on the ball

d) take their eye off the ball

Which of these sentences is the most similar in meaning to "Let's get the ball rolling on the new healthcare policy"?

a) We should start working on the new healthcare policy.

b) We should finish working on the new healthcare policy.

c) We should review the new healthcare policy.

d) We should delay working on the new healthcare policy.

In the conversation example, who suggests getting the ball rolling on a new patient management system?

a) Nurse Manager

b) Physician

c) Healthcare Administrator

d) IT Specialist

Scoring Guidelines:

Give yourself one point for each correct answer. If you score:

5 points: Excellent! You have a great understanding of the idiom "get the ball rolling" and its use in business contexts.

4 points: Good job! You have a solid understanding of the idiom, but there's room for improvement.

3 points: You understand the basics of the idiom, but you need more practice to master its usage.

2 points or fewer: Keep working on it! Review the material and practice using the idiom in various business situations.

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