This has been an incredible year! Can you believe we are in the final weeks of 2017? You are no doubt in the midst of preparing end of year activities and for the holidays. As I look back on the events of the past year — national and state political events, health care uncertainty, individual employer activities and, of course, our own personal events — all are a testament to the fact we have shouldered quite a bit of change.

 

What have you done to mitigate your own change weariness? This is perhaps a good time of year to take stock as to what is important to you and your families and reconnect with your passions. I know I have. I had the opportunity this past month to reconnect with my European family in Italy. I returned to the town and relatives my family left in pursuit of opportunities in America for their children, grandchildren and all who followed. 

 

On this trip, I became acutely aware that we live in an increasingly small world. I had the opportunity to tour Technoblend, a gelato company in my family’s hometown of Altamura, and speak with its president, Raffaele Nicoletti. We discussed common Lean language and shared industry ideas. Nicoletti asked me what was most important in our sector and I stated, "to reduce risk and heighten the patient experience." He shared that his goal was to provide a quality product with heightened customer satisfaction. Even though our organizations are vastly different, we are geared to reaching that quality sweet spot in our work that will catapult us as leaders in the field. Remarkable attributes I noted were the passion for sharing and humility, something that I have also noted with our own professional organization, ASHHRA. 

 

There is an Italian saying: "Don’t live in the past, it is already gone. Don’t live in the future because we don’t know what it brings. Live in the present, otherwise we will lose the experience of today." 

 

Happy Holiday Season.

Director & Senior Business Consultant

HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center