A NOTE FROM TROY
A Season of Growth
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t Boone Health, safety is our #1 priority, but it’s not our only priority. Our patients benefit from the high quality of care reflected in our scores and numerous awards, but they don’t choose Boone based solely on data. They choose our hospital, primary care clinics, and outpatient services because they know we will treat them and their loved ones with dignity and compassion. I believe our culture is why Boone receives excellent ratings from groups like U.S. News & World Report or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. Our employees don’t take excellent care of their patients because they want higher HCAHPS scores – they do it because they’re motivated to provide the best care. They make safety and compassion their priorities because it’s the right thing to do. A caring and friendly culture can’t be as easily quantified as readmission rates, but it’s reflected in what our patients, staff and physicians say about Boone. Our culture is also why people choose to work at Boone Health. Ask any Boone employee why they love working here, and they’ll tell you, “It’s the people.” We know that, over the last 2 years, we have had to make decisions that were necessary to protect our patients, visitors, and employees from COVID-19, but which also conflicted with our culture. As one employee told me, we’ve had to do things that are “not Boone.” For example, visitor restrictions were not an easy decision to make, but were made with patient and staff safety in mind. Even as we made the decision, we understood restrictions would be frustrating for our patients and the people who trust Boone to care for their families. While necessary, the restrictions weren’t popular with our employees, either. They didn’t like telling family members that they couldn’t be at their loved one’s bedside.
They didn’t like putting patients in the position of choosing who could visit them that day. Our nurses have missed face-to-face interactions with their patients’ families. Not only do they usually get important information on a patient’s health from family members; they love being able to listen, offer support or just be there. And a spontaneous “thank you” from a grateful family member can make a difference in an employee’s day. Our Boone Family Birthplace staff has missed seeing children eager to visit Mom and meet their new brother or sister on the Postpartum floor. Our Community Wellness nurses miss hitting the road in our Mobile Health Unit to provide free screenings across mid-Missouri. Our employees have missed gathering to celebrate with their coworkers. They’ve missed hugs, group selfies, and carry-ins. And while they understand why protective gear is necessary, Boonies don’t like how masks conceal their smiles. In short, we miss what makes Boone special as much as you do. But while the culture of Boone might have been restricted by the pandemic, it
remains strong. It thrives in the hearts of our employees, physicians, volunteers, patients, families, and communities. Recovery is often described as a journey, not a destination. There can be setbacks along the way, but a positive mindset and continuing to move forward – even if they’re small steps – helps significantly. As we all recover physically, mentally, and spiritually, it’s important we do our best to stay positive and continue making progress. Recently, as I observed the bare trees around our campus, I thought about how dormant phases are a part of growth not just for plants but for people and for communities. Winter can be harsh, but it doesn’t last forever. Spring is a season of renewal and hope. I look forward to seeing Boone Health and the people and communities we serve enjoy renewed growth and energy.
Troy Greer CEO, Boone Hospital Center
Boone.Health/My-Boone-Health
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