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Interactive Reflections

While packing for a holiday recently, I found myself debating two choices of reading material for the plane. One was a pseudo-textbook on sociology. I only say ‘pseudo’ because it essentially contains the highlights of influential works and events through recorded history without going into too much detail. Figuring a sociology book would be way too much science and philosophy to cope with on vacation, I opted for my second selection, Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy (2015) . This was a book by Judd Apatow, esteemed writer/director of such memorable Hollywood films such as “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.”

At least, I thought it was a comedy book.

As it turns out, the actual content was a series of interviews Mr Apatow held with famous comedians dating to his high school days in radio prior to national acclaim. Some of these comedians were not house-hold names in the early ’80’s, and were just getting their start on the club circuit. As the interviewer progressed through the industry, he kept transcripts of these interactions in order to tell a fascinating story. Coming from a broken home, he decided at the age of 15 that he wanted a career in comedy, partly to escape the trauma of real life issues and partly to gain acceptance into the burgeoning comedy fraternity in Long Island.

The interviews have plenty of humorous parts depending on the interviewee. Be it Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, or Adam Sandler, their wry wit is unavoidable, as is their unique view of the world around them. However, the meat of the conversations is delving into the psyche of uber-successful talents. What got them started? What drives them? How do they produce material and be prolific? How do they deal with failure?

The last question there is telling, mainly because that theme is pervasive in almost every interview. The late-night bomb sessions. The hecklers. The sets that get no reaction one way or another. All could have given up at many points, but they managed to overcome to achieve commercial success. The really weird thing to me is how many of them still seek out dive bars with jaded audiences to perform unannounced. The point is to risk failing again whilst working out new material and just ‘playing’. They had reached a point of popularity where they weren’t sure if they were still actually funny, and needed a reality check every once and awhile.

Judd is extremely self-deprecating. He worked hard at his craft, but not with the thought of being the best; he never expected that he could hold a candle to the comics he interviewed, but wanted to feel like he wouldn’t be out of place in the same room with his heroes. In fact, the reason he interviewed Jerry Seinfeld in 1983 was the hope that Jerry would help teach him how to become a comedian.

SO…what does all of this have to do with a pharmacy blog?

Well, as I was reading these stories, it occurred to me that the pharmacy profession has blessed me in so many ways: the opportunities I’ve enjoyed, the projects to which I’ve contributed, and the challenges I’ve tackled have made for a satisfying career thus far. The root of my successes have always been, and will continue to be, my interactions with people. I learn so much about myself by living through others. Speaking with a mother who lost a son to an overdose before the age of 25. Hearing about the sheer joy from a pharmacist colleague when they resolved a life-altering drug-related problem. Having a mentor recount difficult business decisions they had to make early in their careers. A manager friend describes HR missteps and how they learned from them. The technician student describes being fearful of their entry to practice. In all cases, my life experiences are enhanced by those of the people in my life. There is a burning need to reflect and wonder how I would behave myself in similar situations. I often marvel at the behaviour of others and how their instincts seem much more appropriate and effective than mine. What would you do if a customer had a seizure in the front of the store? How would you react if someone falsely accused you of a breach of conduct? What changes would you make when work/life balance is taking a toll on your mental health? If it hasn’t happened yet, then the only way to prepare yourself is to rely on the experience of others.

Like reaching through a mirror, I grab that person in the reflection and put them in unfamiliar circumstances of joy, pain, pride, and failure. I can’t take for granted any of the meaningful interactions I have in my daily life. When someone asks me for advice, or simply wants to catch up, they may not realize they may be helping me a lot more than I am helping them.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Drive for 5

Where were you on Mar 28, 2013? It was a Thursday. Here on the Atlantic coast, it was overcast with a midday high of 5 degrees Celsius.

A quick skim of notable events occurring in March of 2013 from http://www.onthisday.com may help send you back in time to when we were still mourning the loss of Stompin’ Tom Connors at age 77, and Cyprus was the recipient of a 10 billion Euro bailout deal that allowed their banks to reopen. Mars rover Curiosity found more evidence of water-bearing minerals and tensions were mounting between North and South Korea.

As for me? I was wrapping up a term position in a busy retail pharmacy and unsure what the future may bring.

I also happened to be pushing the publish button in the upper right-hand corner of this page for the very first time.

Every year around this time, I grow nostalgic for the places I have traveled and the people I have met through writing on these pages. I’ve shared a lot of my history, and my thoughts on current events. I’ve tried to celebrate wins big and small, and share experiences that have had profound impacts on me personally and professionally. My passion is as strong now as it ever was- to see my colleagues thrive, and feel in control of their individual contributions to the massive evolution of pharmacy makes me proud.

It’s been quite the journey since the blueprint of pharmacy was developed by the CPhA way back in 2005. I was rereading the portion on ‘The Vision of Pharmacy,’  developed in June 2008, almost 10 years ago. On page 5/16, the first page of the document body features a quote:

The demands on the health care system and the changes in the delivery of health care require pharmacists to focus more attention on patient-centred, outcomes-focused care to optimize the safe and effective use of medications.

I would welcome all pharmacists to reacquaint themselves with the Blueprint. It really was ahead of it’s time in the sense that the pieces we need to succeed were already recognized and outlined then. The five key areas of focus were:

  1. Pharmacy Human Resources
  2. Education and Continuing Professional Development 
  3. Information and Communication Technology
  4. Financial Viability and Sustainability
  5. Legislation, Regulation and Liability

For proper execution, coordinating all of these elements is vital to success. Not all 5 are completely in our control, but I feel we have made significant gains in the first three through advocacy activities and continue to work to align the last two to the needs of the healthcare system. That said, having all of the legislation, education and IT tools in the world won’t have an impact if there are no avenues to pay for these enhancements or the pharmacy teams needed to deliver the new services. Having balanced teams in place without proper training or education programs may lead to unnecessary trial and error causing disruption and uncertainty. Lastly, having excellent, highly-skilled people with robust education can not be effective if government legislation does not allow expanded scope activities. Differences between provinces may cause confusion for practitioners and members of the public.

So on the 5th anniversary of PharmAspire, it’s back to the Blueprint for inspiration and the 5 key strategic actions. Rekindle the conversation with your peers, reflect on those blueprints and how far we’ve come and how the environment has changed. There is still plenty of work to do, but we’re ready.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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That’s No Exaggeration

Every time. All the time. Never.

How often to we utter words like this in our everyday speech? Just how large was that fish you caught? How high were the snowbanks in your driveway after the storm? How long was the lineup at the theatre on opening night?

Although I’d be remiss to criticize our neighbours to the south, their choice of president certainly provides ample fodder for pointed criticism. According to Mr. Trump, everything he touches is the most successful, tremendous, the greatest, and the best. These are ambitious goals that we all wish for ourselves, however understanding our imperfections are the key to continuous improvement. Case in point, most folks would not dare make a quote such as this:

“My IQ is one of the highest — and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure; it’s not your fault.” – CBS News report

In pharmacy, we exaggerate quite a bit when blowing off steam or emphasizing a point. No, not EVERY patient on a benzodiazepine accidentally dumps their prescription down the sink and needs a fill seven days early.

Unfortunately, that kind of rhetoric in the dispensary, or business in general makes it difficult to make educated decisions. Defining the frequency and severity of an event (or competing events) will determine our priorities for quality improvement. If a change in process affects every single transaction at the cash register, it may carry more weight than a computer setting that only affects new prescription processing 50% of the time. The same logic applies to the prevention of errors; sometimes we introduce steps on all workflows in an attempt to prevent a very small overall incidence of error. The intentions are always towards enhancing safety, but occasionally, the extra steps and extra stress to complete the process actually leads to an increase in errors. Finding that balance is very difficult, as a 3-step process with gaps can become an 8-step process if different mistakes happen. Now there are 8 steps to remember and track, and training is somewhat more arduous. If the original 3 steps were considered major checkpoints, the chances that mistakes could be made on one of those goes up significantly with every added step.

Personally, I do try to stop myself before using language that overreaches the point I’m trying to make. In this regard, I fail regularly. My love for analytics makes it imperative that only the best data and evidence be used to identify and solve problems. If it takes a stopwatch to measure time, or an engineer to develop a model, or raw numbers on a spreadsheet crunched in myriad ways, we need to use any and all tools available to us. The best way to plan can’t rely on gut instinct alone.

So the next time it feels like you NEVER seem to catch that green light, or that a drug plan ALWAYS gives you billing issues, I challenge you to attempt a quick measure. It may really surprise you how much or how little an event actually occurs. Thankfully I’m surrounded by people who have the discipline to remain objective in every project they tackle. I’m always learning new techniques, and strategies to improve.

That’s no exaggeration.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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K.I.S.S.

My fondness of words often gets me into trouble when expressing my thoughts in these pages or in person. Every few drafts, my editor Laura needs to snap me back into reality by stating how a reference, or in some cases, complete tangents make very little sense. Re-writing paragraphs is part of the routine now, but I swear it’s so clear in my mind as I type.

A new year is upon us, and another fresh start. I found many parts of 2017 challenging. Many people close to me were dealing with personal strife and it seemed to pile on. Losses of family members, relationship breakdowns, catastrophic injuries and prolonged recoveries all made multiple appearances during the year. My hope is that 2018 will hold more good fortune. The pharmacy profession has been the one constant through my adult life, so I tend to reflect on that first to regain my footing when I’m starting to wobble.

It happens to be mid-year review season for our company’s employees and I’m beginning to have some productive conversations with my management team. For the sake of simplicity, my message for 2018 consists of two points and they will always be front of mind when making decisions for our dispensaries:

  1. Patient-focused care vs distribution-focused care.
  2. Own the therapy, not the physical prescription.

For the first one, it’s more of a reinforcement of the discourse we’ve been having for as long as I remember. The difference to me is that we have much better measures and overall evidence to the health benefits of adherence strategies and care plans. These have been part of pharmacy practice for a long time, and pharmacists from all over have wanted to have productive conversations with their patients. I can personally attest to the pressures of filling prescriptions on time; sometimes those interactions are shortened, and that extra open-ended question remains unasked. Removing barriers to clinical care is essential to the next evolution of pharmacy practice.

For the second, Wikipedia is always handy for a quick definition:

Therapy (often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx) is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a diagnosis. In the medical field, it is usually synonymous with treatment (also abbreviated tx or Tx). The English word therapy comes via Latin therapīa from Greek: θεραπεία and literally means “curing” or “healing”.[1]

A *prescription* is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other qualified health care practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient.[1] The term often refers to a health care provider’s written authorization for a patient to purchase a prescription drug from a pharmacist.

Unless the pharmacist is the prescriber, and owning the administrative side of a prescription as well, I am also reinforcing that pharmacists can own the therapy more than ever before. The crux of the matter is defining the clinical (treatment) versus the technical (program) portions of that therapy. We do this every day in practice. For example, how many times has a family member or mutual friend asked for an opinion on a new sample they started taking, or a drug regimen that their doctor is considering? Each of us have a process whereby we collect info about allergies and medical conditions, other medications, relevant blood test results, etc. and arrive at a recommendation. We may agree with the drug, the dosage, the frequency, and the necessary monitoring plan or we may need more information to properly assess. Then we’re done. We stand by our response. At that stage, there is no written or virtual piece of paper. There is no suggestion of how many the physician wants dispensed at one time. There is no discussion about different brands or changes in the shape of tablets. Only an assessment of whether it’s appropriate or not, and how to get the most out of the regimen. Idealistically, we could envision a day where that same approach could apply to a busy dispensary. Some have already begun defining that clinical/technical separation by investing in layout changes, new automation, and role adjustments, including regulated technicians. Lab values are being requested in some provinces already and the availability of this information is becoming more accessible. Demonstration projects are being developed to take advantage of a pharmacist’s expanded scope.

These two tenets are closely intertwined. By staying patient-focused, and having dispensary teams adhering to a patient-first philosophy, it becomes much easier to own the therapy because the relationships are that much deeper, the conversations broader, and the interventions that much more meaningful.

There is a lot of good work ahead, and complexities to overcome along the way. Hopefully by keeping the messaging simple, those barriers in the distance won’t seem so difficult after all.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Letter to a Lost Friend

Dear Dave,

It’s approaching Christmas time again. Those of us with younger children feel an additional rush of excitement as we watch them absorb the magic of the season through elves on shelves and letters to Santa. People are busy, but it’s mostly a good busy; wrapping presents, fighting with the tree, and wrestling with lights. It all seems worth it when the egg nog is poured and a light snow is dusting the lawn. We have a couple scented candles that alternate our evening mood, between a pine and a pumpkin spice scent. Most importantly, it’s a time to celebrate friends and family. As thankful as we are for those that are close to us, this year we’re missing someone.

It’s hard to believe that the morning of Dec 19 will mark one year since we became aware of your passing.

There have been few events in my life when the world has simultaneously come to a screeching halt yet time seems to be lost. Weeks and months were a bit of a blur, and motivation was extremely difficult to find. You were a teammate first, and due to your open demeanor and unflappable style, quickly became a respected friend. I’d known you for close to 9 years, but others could attest to decades of service to the practice of pharmacy in Newfoundland. Now that I think of it, you shared so much of yourself with so many people over the years, the fact that you were a pharmacist was just one small piece of the picture.

When I visited your territory in the spring, there was something ethereal about retracing the path on the west coast and opening the audits you had begun just weeks and months prior. Reading your comments was difficult, and discussing with your team the action plans you had created. For that week, I was away from my family and in a new part of the country. Although I had a job to do, it never felt like work. In fact, the tasks themselves merely served as a reason to engage pharmacy staff, and speak openly about how we were feeling. They painted a picture of someone so patient, so encouraging in every interaction. In every store, they were gracious and thanked me for my visit, even when the results were underwhelming.  I still keep in contact with some and plan to continue. I hope they all realize just how much they helped me overcome my sadness.

One year later, we’re stronger than ever. Change is inevitable, and you are a constant reminder that silver linings are always present on even the darkest of storm clouds.

So tonight the team…check that…your team, will be together once again from across the Atlantic provinces. We will raise a glass, not in mourning, but to honour your impact on each of us. I’m working on my best Neil Young and Bob Dylan impressions in case we happen to grab some guitars and sing along your some of your favourite 70’s folk rock.

We’ll do our best to celebrate to the fullest. We will cherish the times we have together and laugh about this crazy road we travel called life.

Rest easy my friend. Until we meet again,

-Dev

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Bridging the Gap

Pharmacy finds itself in a bit of a conundrum when it comes to workforce needs over the next 5 years. Many pharmacists from my generation of 15-20 years ago remember the recruiting environment whereby students in all years of study were engaged with all sectors of the industry. They really had more control when it came to planning their entry to a career. Oftentimes, opportunities were available in many regions of the country so settling in a preferred location was commonplace.

In the time since then, changes to the economics of pharmacy have prompted many changes to the services being provided, and the scope of practice for most health professionals has been evolving quicker than we had seen in the decades before. Pharmacists are being sought out for their cognitive abilities to help lessen the burden on family physicians, who in turn help lessen the burden on specialists, etc. In doing so, the technical aspects of the jobs are increasingly being back-filled by a set of new professionals: the registered technicians.

Between university programs exploring entry-level PharmD graduate designations, and community college intensifying their technology curriculum, we should have seen this coming 5-7 years ago. The appetite to change pharmacy practice is growing at an accelerated rate, further away from drug distribution and more into clinical services. The constructive non-conformists among us enabling this change need to have the support behind them.

For the longest time, there was excitement for pharmacy assistants to update their skills through bridging programs offered by accredited bodies. The expense was prohibitive for many, and those committed to becoming licensed were taking a risk that the workforce would not be ready to take advantage. Maintaining that license when opportunities were scarce could be deflating, and as a result a large number of individuals took the wait-and-see approach. As time went on, motivation began to wane.

In reviewing the NS Regulations, the deadline for bridging is here:

 (2)    An applicant who has all of the following qualifications on or before December 31, 2017, is eligible for registration and licensing as a pharmacy technician:

              (a)    successful completion of a program approved by the Council to educate and train persons to be pharmacy technicians;

              (b)    at least 2000 hours of work experience in a direct patient care pharmacy practice in Canada in the 3-year period immediately preceding entering the program referred to in clause (a);

              (c)    all the qualifications set out in clauses (1)(b), (c), (e), (f) and (g).

As for the letters at the bottom, most applicable are:

               (e)    successful completion of the examination to assess required professional competencies;    

                (f)    successful completion of an assessment of the applicant’s basic competencies in a direct patient care practice setting approved by the Council;

For other jurisdictions with similar limits, the PEBC qualifying exams are only held twice yearly, and the successful completion of an assessment may vary. Regardless, if a commitment wasn’t made to complete the requirements at this point, it would be virtually impossible to meet them by the end of this calendar year for those hoping to practice in Nova Scotia. In Ontario for instance, bridging programs needed to be completed prior to Jan 1, 2015.

This is adding up to a situation where current long-term employees in community and hospital would need to return to classes to upgrade their skills to gain eligibility for licensure. Confounding this point, new graduates entering the workforce potentially have very little practical experience. We certainly trust that our regulatory bodies have established vetting procedures and oversight that matches those of pharmacists, but as a new profession, there is still a degree of uncertainty. It will take time for widespread acceptance, but happily, that integration is well underway.

The success of these individuals will directly drive the clinical opportunities and roles for pharmacists in the future. Pharmacy programs are being retooled to become even more clinically-focused and patient-centred. We need to support those that are completing their training, and do what we can to integrate their skills into our dispensaries. Technicians will benefit. Pharmacists will benefit. Teams will benefit and all together pharmacy will reach new heights.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Nothing but Hip

I was hesitant to write two music-themed posts in a row, but as much as I would like to isolate myself in a pharmacy bubble some days, real life forces me to look inwards. Trying to make sense of how people affect each other every single day is a lifetime’s work. In whatever vocation you choose, whether you’re the star of the show, the director, or an essential piece behind the scenes; there is always a deeper story under the uniform.

Gord Downie, best known as the lead singer of the Tragically Hip, passed away Oct 17, 2017 at the age of 53 from brain cancer.

His uniform was that of a poet, whose lyrics evoked canadiana. His prose seemed to always leave a sense of mystery as to the true meaning.

Last year in August, I felt compelled to write a post dedicated to the Hip’s final concert. I wrote about  how it brought so many people (11.7M) together for three full hours of magic. The point of the post was to suggest that we give of ourselves as much as we feel comfortable, and help each other live the best lives we can. The risks and rewards are all part of living life to the fullest; taking our own chances and being ready to catch others should they stumble along the way.

To quote Laura from that post:

“So let’s remember what Gord and the Hip did on Aug 20. They gave everything they had left to their fans in one last hurrah. Every Canadian, healthcare professional or not, can stand to give a little more to others, care a little less what people think and get on with living their best life.”

Being a pharmacist in 2017 is more challenging than ever. Check that, being in healthcare in 2017 is more challenging than ever. As costs continue to rise, service delivery is evolving for all health professionals. There is a need for all health professionals to become more efficient in maximizing our scope. Pharmacists in various parts of the country are involved in a multitude of new services: independent therapy initiation, lab requests, layered access to provincial drug files, projects in the realm of genomic testing and subsequent dosing adjustments, naloxone training, and INR monitoring just to name a few. Patient-focused care is the direction in which we’re headed, with drug therapy being only one avenue to improved health. Some of us are more prepared for these changes, but we all have a part to play in making it happen.

“A great song’s greatest attribute is how it hints at more. The Hip has always had a strong curiosity to see what’s around the next corner. To see what more we can do, what more we can say — to each other, primarily. We try and serve the song. If we’re any good at all it’s because we’re together on that.” — Gord Downie, 2009

Replace the word song with just about any source of pride, and it gets to the heart of who we are as people and as a community. For this blog, I choose to replace the word song with the word profession as that’s truly how I feel about where we are headed. “A great profession’s greatest attribute is how it hints at more…”

You’ve inspired a generation, a country, and gone too soon. You are the personification of the tragically hip, and will live on in the annals of music history.

Rest easy Gord, fully completely.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Don’t Stop

The inspiration for today’s post is from an unlikely source, and I’m struck by my inability to get the song out of my head over the past week.

My father recently lent me Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography, he being the seminal figure in the evolution of Fleetwood Mac. I had heard records when I was little. The album Rumours was released in 1977 and the band was quite the rage during my infancy. His writing style is free and easy, and genuinely feels like you’re sitting in a room having an extended chat. The man has lived a wild life, and is unabashed by the drama and destruction that has followed him around. It’s interesting to pass through all of the many distinct chapters of his life and that of the band that shares his namesake. Most folks will identify with the commercial success of the current lineup, but there have been a total of 16 members since 1967. That’s a lot of change in 50 years, and he’s welcomed all of it, much of which he created.

So naturally I’ve found myself rediscovering their music and all of the songs I may have heard and not realized the artist. One of those songs is ‘Don’t Stop’. It stands as one of their most famous and used as a theme for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. The chorus serves as an earworm:

Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow.

Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here.

It’ll be here, better than before.

Yesterday’s gone. Yesterday’s gone.

This is how I like to think about pharmacy practice. Through difficult times, we want to look ahead and use lessons of the past to make something better. Recently, I spent three days in a room full of my peers discussing patient-focused care and re-discovering what it was that drove me to pharmacy in the first place: the professional-patient relationship and the ability to help people. They come to us because of our expertise in drug therapy, but our capacity to help can go so much deeper. We see the person instead of the drug list. We offer assistance starting with their goals instead of academic theory.

It’s invigorating to have so many positive experiences on which to build. Maybe someone presents feeling tired and irritable. After an assessment, it’s suspected that thyroid supplementation may help, along with that nagging itchy dry skin and a pesky feeling of cold most of the time. Connecting the dots, and discussing benefits of therapy modifications can be so rewarding.

Don’t stop….thinking about tomorrow.

I have so many tomorrows to think about right now. How do I want to re-energize the pharmacy teams with what I’ve learned? We can discuss shuffling workstations, moving equipment, organizing appointments on overlap shifts, or simply having regular short, daily meetings to bring everyone together.

Don’t stop…it’ll soon be here.

Why wait? Every tomorrow is a new opportunity to introduce and refine behaviour. Being excited for all of the ‘what if’ possibilities is the way to go. Many provincial jurisdictions have robust prescribing opportunities for chronic conditions, and allow for pharmacist-driven lab requisitions. That future will arrive soon for everyone practicing in Canada.

It’ll be here, better than before.

Keep an open mind. Even systems and processes that seemingly work well today can be tweaked and enhanced when we get new information or new ideas to drive them.

Yesterday’s gone. Yesterday’s gone.

…but by no way forgotten. Disappointing patient interaction? It happened. We learn from those experiences and move to the next. It won’t be the last, and we haven’t found a cure for the human condition. Awesome interactions are also in the past, but the passion we carry from those experiences will touch tomorrow’s colleagues and patients and heighten their engagement.

I’m closing on 19 years in the industry. There have been plenty of stops and starts, and periods of stagnation, but we’ve always risen to the occasion for the needs of our patients, who over time become more like friends and family. Whether you’re a new graduate, or experienced clinician, a community or hospital pharmacist, together we are the profession. We guide it by refusing to stop, and constantly thinking about what we can do tomorrow.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Information Overload

After returning from some time off, it never ceases to amaze me how easily we can shove our brains into overdrive and expect them to keep up for any period of time. Taking a step back, my idea of ‘relaxing’ is usually forcing myself to turn off my phone. Hopefully the angst of not knowing what’s happening in the world will subside in a few days and I can properly enjoy the remainder of the week before having to ramp up once again. I want to believe I’m getting better as I age, but sadly that is likely not the case.

The fact is we live in a fast-paced, information age. If we obsessively try to stay on top of all that’s happening in the universe, our attention span inevitably suffers from the sheer volume of information available. Conversely, if we make a point to avoid the network and are ill-informed, we’re living like dinosaurs.

I remember when our family’s first computer was a Vic20 by Commodore. I also remember upgrading to a Commodore 64 and splurging on a Datassette peripheral that ‘played’ data off of cassettes. Games had 8-bit graphics, simple animation, and cheesy synthesized music that we fell in love with during the 80’s. I remember stressing about completing projects in school; the library closing at 9pm and an absent-minded 10-year-old me leaving my notes in class. The feeling of jealousy crept over when I recall that a buddy’s parents just bought the latest edition of Encyclopedia Brittanica, at least 5 years newer than my set at home.

Nowadays, everything is seemingly instantaneous. From television to banking, from dating to stock trading, from music to DIY projects, we can repeatedly click the mouse with our brains on autopilot, and results will appear on screen quicker than you can blink. For example:

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

We take this to mean whenever you’re unsure of your surroundings, observe and copy behaviours of others. Well I have some good news; now we can prepare. Thanks to Google (founded 1998), why don’t we actually do what the Romans are doing?

I guess they’re abstaining from consuming or imbibing around the water fountains for one.

“If I jumped off a bridge, I suppose you would do that too.”

…is another saying that speaks to common sense. Ill-advised decisions shouldn’t be duplicated. In other words, do as I say, not as I do. Prior to 2005, when YouTube came online, I don’t imagine the RCMP had to issue statements warning folks to refrain from doing just that after a video went viral.

As healthcare providers, we are keenly aware of all of the knowledge available on the web. Unfortunately, much of it may be distorted by media reporting, bias, and even interpretation from family and friends. Disease states are emotional triggers for those receiving a difficult diagnosis. No sooner does the word diabetes leave a physician’s lips, then out comes a smartphone to research tests, diets, treatments, and outcomes.

This can be so overwhelming. As I see it, part of my role is to help sort out the vital information and deliver it in a way that puts someone at ease, and feeling more in control of how to use that information. Instead of overloading, we often need to have multiple conversations to reinforce and build on understanding. A clear mind with a clear path has a much better chance to succeed.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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The Climb

I’ll wait a moment for you to finish singing the chorus while doing your best Miley Cyrus impression.

Today’s topic has a management slant, due to a number of recent conversations had during our yearly review season. The idea of letting go. It’s something that’s difficult to accept, and even harder to use the philosophy to keep yourself and your teams engaged.

Say you take over a new retail operation as a manager for the first time. As a new manager, chances are you’ve worked on high-functioning teams and learned what to focus on and what NOT to do to get results. The first stage is feeling out the people and the workflow. This period is very blue sky; everything is an opportunity and the urge is there to mix things up.

After a few months, the long-term planning begins. Most of the quick fixes have occurred, and the team has a sense of your style. The schedule may have changed. Certain tasks may be assigned to different roles. New technology may be introduced. Now that the ‘newness’ and shine have worn off somewhat, you’ve settled in and are building your vision for the future.

Then it happens: someone puts in their notice. My immediate reaction used to be: ‘great, in 2 weeks we’ll be short-staffed, I’ll need to take on x, y, and z, plus hire someone, and my best trainer will no longer be here, so we’ll be playing catch up all summer / flu season / Christmas break, etc’. Does this sound familiar? All your best-laid plans are at risk, and you have no idea when you’ll get it back to this happy point right now.

I’ve talked frequently about my satisfaction in watching people learn and grow. I’ve been lucky to work with some of the sharpest minds in my field. They have made me better every step of the way, and I’ve tried my best to pay it forward. My most ambitious employees, the ones I’ve shared experiences, and pushed in new directions, have always left to further their careers. In the moment it’s disappointing, but if I’ve truly prepared them for their next chapter, then they have earned the right to choose what happens next. I will support that decision either way, even if it means letting go.

“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over.”
—Octavia Butler

Succession planning isn’t just about looking at a roster of names and picking the best-suited. Succession planning is paying it forward. If someone has taken the time to grow you, then you take the time to grow the folks that you lead. Those goals we set every year? They represent your plan, and the path you both take to get there. If you have an assistant manager, you will be sharing financial information and business plans for the next 6 months. A people supervisor? They will need to evaluate and challenge their staff to learn new tasks and perfect old ones. The hope is that they learn from your examples, and add their own flavour to the process, which should include being an example for their own trainees. The best way to mitigate the loss of a team member is to treat it as an opportunity for another to step into the role.

So I’ve chosen to manage people as if they are on the side of a mountain with me; we’re all trying to reach the top, and everyone has their own footholds and paths to get there. If we encounter each other, my goal will be to lift you as far as I can go, knowing that it may slow me down for a bit, knowing that you may very well pass me on your journey. The end result will be that together, we will be further up the slope, both looking down occasionally to see who may benefit from our help and experience.

It’s never goodbye, only farewell. We’ll see each other again on the climb.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.