Direct Line from Max Buetow for 9/2/22

Sept. 2, 2022

A powerful site visit is the latest step in our Magnet journey

When you work with health care teams dedicated to excellence in their individual areas each day, a fresh set of eyes can be your best gauge for how far you’ve come. This week offered one of those opportunities as we hosted surveyors for our Magnet site visit at Cox South.

The visit is the next step in our journey toward Magnet status, one of the most prestigious distinctions hospitals can earn for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. We have worked toward the designation for more than 10 years, and the finish line is in sight!

Over three days, our teams met with four industry-leading nurses – the best of the best in the field – who served as Magnet surveyors.

They were blown away by our culture. It was so uplifting to see them recognize the camaraderie and sense of family in our organization.

We have strong leaders who support our nurses and set the tone for our culture. Leaders like System Chief Nursing Officer Beth Polivka; retired VP and Chief Nursing Officer Karen Kramer; my predecessor, Steve Edwards; and more have all played a role. That leadership is combined with the expertise and the organizational pride of our long-term colleagues who have built their careers here.

The tenure we are blessed with is simply unparalleled. That experience and our leadership creates a culture that sets us apart.

“It was so incredibly validating and meaningful to have four professionals come here and say that what our nurses are doing is special,” Beth says.

As we met in Foster Auditorium for the visit’s closing, it was an emotional scene, for our nursing leaders, our staff, and for all in attendance.

I got to watch Beth in front of her teams, and the energy was palpable. To see the amount of electric engagement in that room was a lift that was so needed after the last couple of years.

I was honored to be there and see her speak, alongside Karen and a room full of colleagues who have given so much to this effort.

Too often, we only see our performance in slices, through the lens of a single part of the organization, or from a particular point in time.

The story of our Magnet journey helps us see the full continuum of our success. You can look around the room and see all the linkages between each area’s achievements. You can reflect on the past decade and beyond and see the full narrative of how each phase of our success has led to this point.

Magnet officials will vote on our status in the coming weeks, and we are all eager for great news. In the meantime, the surveyors made it clear they have not seen an organization that does culture better than CoxHealth. I couldn’t agree more, and I couldn’t be more proud of where we are today and thankful for those who brought us here.

Welcoming our new class of resident chaplains

We had the opportunity to welcome a new class of resident chaplains to CoxHealth this week. Our Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program helps us broaden our ability to provide comfort and support during the most sensitive and difficult moments.

“Hospitals are unique places,” says Curt McLaughlin, system director of Pastoral Care at CoxHealth. “CPE helps teach the art of chaplaincy, and how to best serve patients in times when they need support the most.”

The program is open to all faiths and provides residents clinical and educational training to serve as professional chaplains after graduation. They serve such an important role at CoxHealth, and I am excited to see all the ways this class will support our patients this year!

Going out of our way to provide the best care

Our teams are always going above and beyond, even when that means braving the unstable Ozarks weather. During Tuesday’s downpour, our Republic Clinic got their clothes wet to make sure a patient could safely enter the building. Caring for our patients starts far before they come through our doors, and this group is a prime example! You can see their story on our Facebook page here. My thanks to these colleagues for braving the elements for our patients!

Salute to First Responders lunches

Cox Barton County and Cox Branson each hosted their Salute to First Responders lunch to show our appreciation for all of their hard work in our region. First responders enjoyed to-go meals from our Food Services teams. First responders play a vital role within our communities and at CoxHealth. We appreciate all they do! You can see photos from the events on the Cox Barton County and Cox Branson Facebook pages. Out next event is at Cox North on Sept. 22

United Way campaign

Throughout the month of September, CoxHealth employees have the opportunity to join United Way’s campaign to support the community’s greatest needs through payroll deduction. This year, United Way is focusing on “Championing Children” and “Pathways out of Poverty.”

Through their campaigns, they are able to fund upstream programs that address root causes of social issues, along with safety net programs for families in crisis, and innovative programs to address persistent community needs. I encourage all of our teams to consider joining United Way’s efforts to support our community.

Voice of the patient

Adapted from patient feedback at the Cox South Emergency Department: “Everyone had a very professional and caring attitude. I appreciated my treatment”

Thank you for all you do,

Max