Direct Line from Max Buetow for 9/8/2023

Sept. 8, 2023

Shared Mission and Expertise: Inside the Special Operations Combat Medics program

The armed forces and health care are very different fields, but they have more in common than you might think. Both have dedicated professionals who stand in the gap to serve others. When the two fields overlap, we can learn from one another and push our teams to new heights of excellence.

I saw that firsthand as I joined Drs. Matthew Brandt, Shawn Usery and Tom Trent to visit Fort Liberty in North Carolina. There, we saw behind the scenes of the Special Operations Combat Medics (SOCM) program, the elite training regimen for the Army Special Forces.

CoxHealth is one of a handful of sites nationally that host SOCM training, which allows combat medics to receive hands-on patient care experience alongside CoxHealth’s paramedics and physicians. The relationship is a win-win for all of us: The combat medics benefit from experience with our medical staff, and we get a cultural uplift from being alongside men and women who are serving our country.

On our campuses, the SOCMs bring an energy and enthusiasm for caring for others, and they add to the culture of who we are as an organization. Their presence is a great reminder of why health education is so important. They will become the medics working in the battlefield to save lives, and I want them to have the absolute best training possible. Our armed forces deserve the best, and I am proud of everything our CoxHealth teams do to provide that training.

At the same time, our paramedics are benefiting from the practices of the SOCM program. Dr. Brandt has brought the best practices of SOCM education to our own EMS training programs, and it is one of the secrets to our high-performing team. The armed forces are known for outstanding training, and we will continue to collaborate and build on that expertise for our own teams.

Our visit was a powerful reminder of what we our experts can offer to one another, and it was capped with a personal moment for Dr. Brandt – one the CoxHealth team will never forget.

Near the end of our trip, we met with the colonel in charge of the medical division. Leaders at Fort Liberty wanted to show their appreciation, and they decided to present us with a ceremonial knife.

The colonel presented the knife to Dr. Brandt, in what would be a full-circle moment I wouldn’t understand until later.

On the ride back to the airport, Dr. Brandt explained that the knife is the token traditionally presented to the top performer in each SOCM class. Receiving the knife as an honor for the SOCM program he developed and continues to support at CoxHealth was a special moment because it embodied Dr. Brandt’s unending commitment to his country, profession, and service to others.

Dr. Brandt’s SOCM journey is an excellent example of the significant impact one person can have. We are fortunate to have him leading our teams, in his quiet, humble and energetic way.

It is powerful to spend time working alongside those who stand in the gap for our country. All of us who seek to serve our communities can take inspiration from those like Dr. Brandt and the combat medics who make a profession of serving others.

‘Celebrate Springfield’ helps us become ambassadors for our community

There is a lot to be said for the concept of placemaking: defining what is great about where we live and taking advantage of it. As residents and business leaders, we need to be great at telling our community's story and helping people fall in love with this region.

At this week’s Good Morning Springfield event, I joined a sold-out crowd to hear about Celebrate Springfield, a communitywide effort to highlight what makes our area special.

Celebrate Springfield is designed to make everyone aware of the people, the places, and the opportunities we have right in our own backyard.

I love the concept of highlighting the cool things happening in our community and breaking down the barriers to participation. The Celebrate Springfield site lets you sort activities and offerings by your interests, and explore what’s new in our area.

As the region’s largest employer, we seek to attract the best talent from all over the globe. We want to introduce people to everything that is special here, and the Celebrate Springfield effort gives all of us the tools to be better ambassadors for the region we love.

You can check out the website at this link – you may even find something new in our area to try yourself!

MSU President Clif Smart announces retirement

We are nearing the end of an era at Missouri State University and for our community, as President Clif Smart announced his upcoming retirement, set for next year.

I hadn’t had the chance to work with Clif personally until recently, but from a community perspective, I always admired how he elevated Missouri State University. In doing so, he raised the profile of our region as a whole. When I travel, I wear BearWear proudly, and I know Clif’s leadership has been a big part of what helps people connect with the university and its brand.

In recent months, I gained a lot of personal admiration for Clif during our discussions on the Alliance for Healthcare Education. Getting four organizations on the same page for a common goal is no easy task. Clif was able to see and express the full potential of the Alliance, often bringing us all back to the big picture as we worked to finalize the deal.

It is a mark of a great leader when someone’s work leaves a true legacy. President Smart is one of those leaders, and I know our region will reap the rewards of his work for decades to come!

Voice of the Patient

Adapted from patient feedback at Cox Springfield: “For the seriousness of my surgery, my hospital stay will be in my memory forever as a pleasant experience. I felt so cared for and safe. Thank you all!”

Thank you for all you do,

Max