Direct Line from Max Buetow for 6/2/2023

June 2, 2023

In a vacation season, take time to pause and reflect

Last week, I had an experience that is all too rare for most of us. On a vacation road trip, I was able to truly unplug for a full week of dedicated time with my wife and kids.

Our week on the Gulf Coast was a powerful lesson we all need to hear: keep your life outside of work at the top of your priority list.

I talk a lot about prioritizing my faith, my family, and my work, in that order. But, if you could see a time lapse of the thoughts in my mind – even during time off – there are more work thoughts than I would like to admit.

You might say I am not a “good vacationer.” I cannot sit still, and I always have to be doing something – making progress toward a positive end point.

Last week’s trip was so much different than my usual mindset of progressing toward a goal. Whether I was spending 12 hours in the car, or time at the beach, I began to see it as a chance to deeply invest in relationships with my family. The drive for accomplishment was poured back into trying to be the best dad and husband I could be that week. I felt good about that.

After we had been at the beach for a few days – playing with the kids, or just sitting on the back porch and looking at the water – I began to just enjoy being in the moment.

It can be so hard to turn things off, but it is refreshing to allow yourself the luxury of just being. I was reminded me of the Biblical principle of “Be still, and know that I am God.”

There were so many moments last week when I was able to stop and thank God for the life I have, for my wife and kids, and for the way I get to serve. It was a reconnection to faith, to family and to a true understanding of how enormously blessed I am.

We arrived back home refreshed and reminded that not having to be on the go all the time is good for us! We are at our best for our families, our colleagues, and ourselves when we are able to disconnect sometimes.

As we head into the summer season of vacations, I hope all of you will take time to pause and reflect on the blessings in your own lives.

Listening to feedback on our strategy

Over the last two weeks, our senior vice presidents have been engaged in one of the most important facets of leadership: listening.

We have undergone a great deal of change in the last few months, rolling out a strategic plan and launching a new operating model that reshapes the way we all work. Our SVP team recently decided to pause, take a step back, and get input on how the changes are affecting our teams.

I am grateful for the mutual level of trust on display in these sessions: leaders trust our teams to give feedback, and our teams trust our vice presidents enough to share the honest truth. That level of mutual investment is essential as we work through major change.

Everyone understands that implementing our strategy is a work in progress, and our leadership teams definitely don’t espouse perfection. They lead with good intentions, and we work together to make change happen. We know if we get 50-60% of an idea correct on the first try, we can improve in phases after that.

As we make changes in the way we work, it can take time to get comfortable. To make progress happen, we have to work through the imperfections. A new operating model can be like a new home: you move in, you live in it, you make improvements, and you make it your own.

Through that process we all put our fingerprints on our future direction. We are an organization that actively seeks feedback and uses that to make us better. I thank our leaders for investing in getting feedback, and I thank our teams for collaborating with us as we work toward our future!

Welcoming a new board member, who is carrying on a family legacy

I talk a lot about the CoxHealth family, but recently I got to be at the table for a part of CoxHealth history with literal family ties.

A few weeks ago, I joined Larry Lipscomb and Board Chair Rob Fulp as we formally invited Stuart Lipscomb to join the CoxHealth Board of Directors. Stuart, who is Larry’s son and Lester E. Cox’s great-grandson, is the fourth generation of the Cox-Lipscomb family to serve our organization.

Stuart is humble, bright, funny, and as unpretentious as you can get. He is a top-notch thinker with a strong sales and marketing background. He has served on the Cox College board and on several subcommittees. What he brings to the table, combined with the incredible family legacy, will be a strength to our board.

His invitation was made even more special by the fact that it was extended by Rob Fulp, who also happens to be Stuart’s father-in-law. Our meeting was one of those times when we all stepped back to look at the significance of the moment.

There are no people that care more about CoxHealth than the Cox-Lipscomb family, and I love their commitment. I know when they ask a question, they have in mind the history of our organization, the best interests of CoxHealth, and the best interests of our community. They put those interests first, and that is the definition of a great board member and of true service.

Reinforcing a culture of belonging at CoxHealth

Now that our Systemwide Orientation has been back in person for a few months, I am so excited to see the continued work on improving our new colleagues’ first experience with us. Each Monday, we introduce our newest hires to life within CoxHealth. When I get to attend, it gives me such joy to speak about the great things within our very walls.

One of the biggest things I want our new and current staff members to feel is that they belong here. For me, my entire experience at CoxHealth has felt like family, and I want to nurture that feeling across the organization.

We are in the business of caring for people, and I believe our unique perspectives, talents, and experiences are the foundation of our excellence. Our commitment of creating a welcoming environment to work, volunteer, or receive care lies within four fundamentals: respect, compassion, dignity, and integrity.

During orientation, we now have an amazing video to show to introduce our new team members to our culture. You can watch the full video at this link.

Voice of the patient

Adapted from inpatient feedback at Cox Branson: “The nurses and doctors that helped me during my stay were amazing. They explained everything to me and assisted in every way possible. This was one of the best experiences.”

Thank you for all you do,

Max