Direct Line From Max Buetow For 4/7/2023

April 7, 2023

Looking toward the future at Biz 417’s Think Summit

There is always something inspiring about taking the time to think big and getting out of the office to see other perspectives.

I was glad to do that – in a major way – this week as our senior and executive vice presidents spent the day Wednesday at Biz 417’s annual Think Summit. The event brings together some of our area’s superstars to share their insight and help us all think differently about our teams, our businesses, and our community.

You might think you have to go to a conference in another city to find inspiration, but I am so proud that Biz 417 hosts an event like this right here at home. And it offers another advantage: the speakers we saw on stage actually live here. They are leaders we can follow up with – to share ideas, seek input, or just have lunch.

As we got to meet and mingle with other business and community leaders, the energy was simply electric. You can see the passion and the joy on the faces of everyone in the audience. All are there to expand their horizons and absorb the atmosphere of entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration.

I took a lot of notes from the presenters throughout the day, but one message that really stuck with me was Tom Douglas’ presentation on “Loving the truth.”

Tom is the CEO of JMARK, and he focused on how facing reality – both our wins and our failures – is crucial to making progress. “The only way you can survive is standing on the truth,” he told the crowd.

We have to create a culture where it is OK to make mistakes, acknowledge them and learn. As a leader, I know I have to be first to stand up and call out times I have failed – the hard part is going to be narrowing that list to just the top 10! If we don’t own our mistakes, we create an environment where they can persist. You either bring your issues to the surface where they can be addressed or let them hide in the shadows, allowing them to slowly suffocate the organization.

It was a powerful perspective for everyone in the room and especially for those of us in health care whose work has so much impact on people’s lives.

In addition to everything we learned Wednesday, I greatly appreciated the chance to get our executive team together for the event. Being there with the team lets other community members see the horsepower we have here at CoxHealth, and, perhaps more importantly, it is a chance for our leadership team to bond with one another.

I have said many times that collaboration is the way forward – both for health care and for our region. It is a powerful thing when like-minded people get together to talk about our future. I am grateful to Biz 417 for leading such a great event, and I appreciate every speaker and attendee who took the time to put their minds toward our community’s next steps. I hope all were as inspired and as eager for our region’s progress as I was!

Talking servant leadership at our leadership training

This week, I joined my friend Dr. Tom Trent to speak with new CoxHealth leaders about one of my favorite topics: servant leadership. We presented on Thursday to the newest class of our LEADs development program, hosted by CoxHealth’s Center for Professional Development.

Servant leadership is a vital topic for our new leaders, and there is likely no better person to address servant leadership than Dr. Trent, our associate chief medical officer. He has dedicated his life to serving others – our community as a physician in the emergency department, our country as a member of the armed forces, humanity while on the mission field, all while being a standout husband and father.

Dr. Trent’s not the type to call attention to himself and the contributions he’s made, but he is ready to use his expertise any time it is needed.

That is common for many people in health care, who have entered the field to serve. I shared with the LEADs cohort that an attitude of servant leadership is key to reinforcing our culture of belonging.

In a Bible study this week, we were reading a passage in John about The Last Supper. I was struck by the scene set by Christ as he washed the feet of his disciples. If you want the picture in my mind of what servant leadership looks like, that scene is it. We all strive to serve and to create a sense of belonging – the kind of belonging you see in a room where a leader is present with humility and love, washing the feet of the people he cared about.

Service is in our DNA at CoxHealth, and if we are all trying to outdo one another in humility and in service to one another, this will continue to be a great place to work.

CoxHealth, Cigna Healthcare reach agreement to expand access to region

This week, we were proud to announce that patients with Cigna Healthcare insurance plans through their employers are now considered in-network at CoxHealth.

With the change, all CoxHealth physicians and services will be available to patients with Cigna Healthcare plans at an in-network rate. Almost 27,000 of our neighbors will now have in-network access to our experts.

“We are pleased to give Cigna Healthcare customers the additional option to seek care at CoxHealth,” says David Raney, vice president of network services at CoxHealth. “Many employers in southwest Missouri have Cigna Healthcare as their insurance provider, and this will provide their employees with open access to care across the community.”

As we welcome the new patients to our system, I also want to thank the CoxHealth Network team for working so hard to create this opportunity for us to serve even more of our community.

You can see the full release on the change at CoxHealth.com.

CoxHealth and Springfield Community Gardens partnership

As part of our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve, CoxHealth has partnered with Springfield Community Gardens in recent years with Amanda Belle’s Farm, which grows a variety of seasonal produce on the Cox South campus.

Now, thanks to a USDA grant, Springfield Community Gardens and CoxHealth have an opportunity to partner on a pilot Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to support approximately 100 SNAP-eligible patients through healthy food and education.

With the pilot, select patients will be enrolled in the prescription box program, titled HealthScripts. The box will provide select patients with a weekly produce box filled with locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Those participating will also meet regularly with CoxHealth physicians and receive medical education and support throughout the program.

I’m so excited for this program with the Springfield Community Gardens and to see how this partnership will ‘grow’! You can see a full press release about the pilot program at this link.

Voice of the patient

Adapted from inpatient feedback at Cox Branson: “I was so comfortable with all staff on each shift. They made me feel so welcomed and I was important to them. Best stay I have had in a hospital.”

Thank you for all you do, and Happy Easter!

Max