Unless you spent June reading fiction on the beach, you might recall my blog last month, which celebrated the cycling season by sharing "rules of the road" for practice managers. At that time, I was preparing for our AAHA accreditation and shared some pointers and strategies from a rider's perspective, like "Prepare for Complications During the Ride."
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the complications I faced on the morning of our AAHA visit.
But first, let's set the stage. For those familiar with AAHA accreditation, maintaining it is akin to a CVPM keeping their certification. Every few years, you must present your continuing education, and then you retain your certification. An AAHA-accredited hospital certifies every three years that it maintains over 900 standards. An AAHA consultant then visits for a day, tours your hospital, reviews your standards, and observes your operation. Our visit was scheduled for July 2. We were ready and excited. Our team had "Stayed Focused on the Course" (another tip from my June blog), and I even cleaned my office.
Now, let me tell you how my day unfolded and reshaped what follows.
On July 2, I was up at 4:00 a.m. to ensure I didn't oversleep on this important day. I had plenty of time to start my morning and arrive at the hospital by 8:00 a.m. Everything seemed fine. Or so I thought.
Here's where it all went a bit sideways. At 6:15 a.m., Poppy (my dog) and I went for our morning walk. Back at the house, Poppy was fixated on a tree that often had squirrels. She loves chasing them, so I let her enjoy a few minutes. As we approached the driveway, we heard a crackling sound from that tree. Would you believe it? A major limb split and fell, landing directly on my car! Poppy and I were fine, but my car was clearly not.
Referencing my June cycling blog advice, I had to navigate the unexpected, which was far more than dealing with a flat tire. My essential tool became calling an Uber to get me to the hospital. This allowed me time to contact my insurance company and update my team about our big day while being driven to work.
AAHA Re-Accreditation: Our Own Personal Tour de France Victory!
Despite my morning setbacks, my team steered us toward re-accreditation beautifully. We had a successful visit and maintained our accreditation for another three years. This wasn't just luck. Like the cyclists we admire, my team trained for this race (to reaccreditation) for months!
Did they slack off after that race? Absolutely not. They kept the momentum going while I navigated insurance, rental cars, and car replacement issues.
My intention was to make July my Part II cycling blog (inspired by July's Tour de France). If you're unfamiliar, the Tour de France is the largest annual bike race, where the world's top riders compete. It might seem odd to non-cyclists, but bike racing is indeed a team sport. The top riders have teams built around them for success. It's not an individual effort. Observing athletes riding over a hundred miles daily for 21 days highlights the importance of teamwork. Each member brings unique skills to tackle hills, speed, and distances.
If my hospital team didn't exemplify a phenomenal team post-victory, I don't know who did. They managed beautifully, even after our re-accreditation visit, allowing me to address personal issues – a totaled car and related insurance and financial matters. This had no impact on the hospital, thanks to my team's adherence to practices seen in world-class cyclists:
Build a Buffer into Your Course
My hospital team has been fantastic. My schedule had to adapt as I dealt with details of insurance, financing, test drives, and finding a new car to love. They've stepped up and provided the buffer I needed, ensuring no impact on our collective success.
Leverage the Strengths of Individual Team Members to Achieve Collective Success
The Tour de France is a stage race, meaning it's divided into sections, allowing riders with specific strengths to lead at different times. Our hospital teams should do the same. As managers, we understand our team's strengths and weaknesses, knowing who can best navigate each course. Like the Tour, there are winners and champions, but achievements are also celebrated: best climber, best young rider, points winner, and the overall performer. We're now embarking on a new stage: new practice software. I have true riders leading the way and guiding the rest of the team along the route.
Focusing on each team member's strengths is vital. In racing, crashes and health issues often force teams to adapt. In our case, it was that tree limb. Yet, our hospital team members applied their individual talents to overcome these challenges.
Sports Imitate Practice Management, or Is It Vice Versa?
Looking at how we manage our hospitals, we find parallels with cycling. I hope you've discovered ways to apply my cycling blog insights to your work.
Now, turn off your computer, hop on your bike, and chart a fun course! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Your Buddy,
Scott Zimmerman, BFA, CVPM
VHMA President
#PracticePulse