I'm intrigued by the concept of the "maverick". The synonyms for this word includes nonconformist and rebel. This statement has been used to describe me and Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics. We're "mavericks!" in rural healthcare. I like to think we don't cotton to the conventional. We like to see...
Fighting and Leading The fight behind the scenes exists. Every day. Everyone knows about the ‘front lines” in healthcare. You see it in the ER, the operating room, labor and delivery, etc. The daily encounters with life and death are visible for all who work and visit here to see....
I prefer to win titles with the team ahead of individual awards or scoring more goals than anyone else. ~ Lionel Messi I have the pleasure of attending the Press Ganey conference this week with several members of our incredible nursing team. These ladies are a testament to the care...
Today is Halloween. Good. Best holiday of the year – costumes, candy, what more could you want? No Black Friday rush to the mall – no decorating and expecting gifts or buying stuff that no one needs … I love Halloween. I was talking about this most holiest of days...
I went to the Cambridge, Iowa apple orchard with a friend on Sunday. It was a nice sunny day, and I didn’t nor couldn’t imagine the horror and scene we would encounter as we got there. At least 2 million people, mostly kids and black Friday shoppers … it was...
Halloween Treats (medical trivia) Halloween is kind of a strange and weird tradition the we participate in. If we don’t take ourselves too seriously, most of us can really enjoy it. Adults and children alike. I was thinking about the children’s playground song “Ring Around the Rosie” the other day....
I am even thankful for the negative things that have made me a stronger and better person. ~ Joanna Krupa Nancy Gabrielson used to always say “Be the better person” and it truly stuck with me. This is probably the phrase that Shaila hears the most at our house regardless...
A year ago today my large cat died. He wasn’t doing well for a while, and it was a blessing – but it still hurt. I was a pallbearer in one of my best friend’s mom’s funeral a week ago today. I got to see all of my good friends,...
In his book, “Good to Great”, Jim Collins uses the analogy of a company’s CEO as a bus driver who needs to decide where the bus is going, how it’s going to get there, and who is going along for the ride. While most people assume the journey should start...
Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. I preach this concept, but I don’t think I’m very good at practicing the art of empathy. Lately I’ve been thinking “ok, when you say something as a lesson or correction, you’re a buzzkill, and not very empathetic.” An...
