WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.719 - The strategic agenda facing hospital and health system 2 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:06.740 - leaders right now is not a short list. 3 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:09.839 - Growth in a consolidating market, sustainable margins in 4 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.080 - a reimbursement environment that rarely moves in your 5 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.464 - favor, 6 00:00:12.945 --> 00:00:15.445 - a tech investment cycle that demands both urgency 7 00:00:15.664 --> 00:00:16.404 - and discipline, 8 00:00:16.945 --> 00:00:19.344 - and a workforce story that is still being 9 00:00:19.344 --> 00:00:19.844 - written. 10 00:00:20.464 --> 00:00:23.984 - Eker's fourteenth annual CEO CFO roundtable brings together 11 00:00:23.984 --> 00:00:27.265 - more than 1,500 executive level attendees and nearly 12 00:00:27.265 --> 00:00:30.170 - 400 speakers across four days of sessions that 13 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:32.429 - are designed to help c suite leaders benchmark, 14 00:00:32.649 --> 00:00:34.590 - pressure test, and sharpen their priorities. 15 00:00:35.210 --> 00:00:37.130 - Not in the abstract, but against the real 16 00:00:37.130 --> 00:00:39.390 - decisions they'll face heading into the next year. 17 00:00:39.609 --> 00:00:41.049 - It's the kind of event you leave with 18 00:00:41.049 --> 00:00:42.890 - a clear sense of where you stand and 19 00:00:42.890 --> 00:00:43.814 - what comes next. 20 00:00:44.375 --> 00:00:46.534 - So join us November second through the fifth 21 00:00:46.534 --> 00:00:49.094 - at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, and come 22 00:00:49.094 --> 00:00:50.475 - ready to do the hard thinking. 23 00:00:50.854 --> 00:00:54.614 - Register on our events page at beckershospitalreview.com 24 00:00:54.614 --> 00:00:56.375 - by clicking on the events tab in the 25 00:00:56.375 --> 00:00:57.195 - upper right. 26 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.560 - Welcome to this episode of Leadership Unscripted, a 27 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.600 - Becker's Healthcare podcast. I'm Chris Sosa, your host. 28 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:04.879 - And I'm thrilled to be joined today by 29 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:06.959 - Jim Andrews. He, of course, is president and 30 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:09.120 - CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center in 31 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:09.859 - New Jersey. 32 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.344 - Jim, thank you for joining us today. Thank 33 00:01:12.344 --> 00:01:14.444 - you very much, Chris. I appreciate being here. 34 00:01:14.745 --> 00:01:17.405 - Fantastic. Yes. Of course. Leadership Unscripted. 35 00:01:18.025 --> 00:01:19.545 - This is a podcast where you where we 36 00:01:19.545 --> 00:01:21.945 - talk about leaders' health care journals and all 37 00:01:21.945 --> 00:01:23.385 - that is important to them as far as 38 00:01:23.385 --> 00:01:25.704 - that's concerned. So, Jim, before we dive into 39 00:01:25.704 --> 00:01:28.240 - that, though, could you please, introduce yourself a 40 00:01:28.240 --> 00:01:30.240 - little more a little more in-depth to our 41 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:32.500 - audience and tell us about, Deborah in general? 42 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:34.340 - Certainly. So, 43 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.280 - Jim Andrews, president and CEO of Deborah Heart 44 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:38.180 - and Lung Center. 45 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:39.859 - Been working here for 46 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:41.459 - two years now, 47 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:42.340 - and 48 00:01:43.644 --> 00:01:45.644 - very happy and pleased to work here at 49 00:01:45.644 --> 00:01:47.104 - Deborah Heart and Lung Center. 50 00:01:47.405 --> 00:01:50.685 - Deborah is a 104 year old organization. It's 51 00:01:50.685 --> 00:01:51.424 - a specialty 52 00:01:52.125 --> 00:01:54.384 - heart, lung, and vascular hospital, 53 00:01:55.084 --> 00:01:56.545 - which is independent. 54 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:59.640 - We are located in Southern New Jersey, and 55 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:01.420 - we've been operating at 56 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:04.840 - a mission that it think is critical in 57 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:05.900 - health care today, 58 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:08.919 - and it's to ensure that all of our 59 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:11.900 - patients are cared for physically, emotionally, and financially, 60 00:02:12.415 --> 00:02:14.675 - and we support them in all three elements 61 00:02:14.735 --> 00:02:16.115 - of their care journey. 62 00:02:16.495 --> 00:02:18.814 - We've got amazing quality outcomes of some of 63 00:02:18.814 --> 00:02:20.355 - the best in the state of New Jersey, 64 00:02:20.495 --> 00:02:21.875 - some of the best in the country, 65 00:02:22.415 --> 00:02:25.294 - and we really dedicate everything that we can 66 00:02:25.294 --> 00:02:28.790 - at the center to ensuring that people live 67 00:02:28.790 --> 00:02:31.530 - healthy heart, lung, and and vascular lives. 68 00:02:32.469 --> 00:02:34.169 - Jim, thank you for mentioning in particular 69 00:02:34.469 --> 00:02:36.250 - the elements of the care journey 70 00:02:36.550 --> 00:02:38.569 - that Deborah makes sure to 71 00:02:39.110 --> 00:02:41.030 - that uses as part of its mission, you 72 00:02:41.030 --> 00:02:42.409 - know, to care for its patients. 73 00:02:43.224 --> 00:02:45.224 - With that in mind, we wanna talk about 74 00:02:45.224 --> 00:02:46.824 - your journey, of course, as we mentioned up 75 00:02:46.824 --> 00:02:47.645 - top. So 76 00:02:48.025 --> 00:02:49.784 - as far as that's concerned, my first question 77 00:02:49.784 --> 00:02:51.564 - is, what is something that you learned 78 00:02:51.944 --> 00:02:53.865 - outside of health care that you've applied to 79 00:02:53.865 --> 00:02:54.525 - your career? 80 00:02:55.270 --> 00:02:56.330 - I mean, I think 81 00:02:56.949 --> 00:02:59.110 - the the most important thing, which is the 82 00:02:59.110 --> 00:03:01.370 - the one that is probably truest to 83 00:03:01.990 --> 00:03:04.789 - everyone in health care is the the golden 84 00:03:04.789 --> 00:03:05.289 - rule. 85 00:03:05.669 --> 00:03:07.689 - Treat others as you would wanna be treated. 86 00:03:08.605 --> 00:03:10.784 - Tenth grade, shout out to miss Sylvia. 87 00:03:11.325 --> 00:03:13.965 - We all had to read Dale Carnegie's How 88 00:03:13.965 --> 00:03:15.965 - to Win Friends and Influence People. And the 89 00:03:15.965 --> 00:03:18.145 - the biggest takeaway I had from that was 90 00:03:18.685 --> 00:03:21.405 - the golden rule and making sure that whatever 91 00:03:21.405 --> 00:03:24.000 - I was doing in life, it was reflective 92 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:24.719 - of 93 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.520 - that moral code and just to 94 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:30.060 - care for people in a way in which 95 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:30.800 - I would 96 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:32.639 - wanna be cared for myself. 97 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:34.800 - I think that rule, that Acxiom 98 00:03:35.555 --> 00:03:38.294 - is what brings people into health care 99 00:03:38.675 --> 00:03:40.194 - in the first place. So we have a 100 00:03:40.194 --> 00:03:42.215 - nice little cohort in health care 101 00:03:42.514 --> 00:03:44.615 - of people that subscribe to 102 00:03:45.074 --> 00:03:47.634 - that general philosophy, and I think it's incumbent 103 00:03:47.634 --> 00:03:50.430 - upon all of us and certainly everyone here 104 00:03:50.430 --> 00:03:51.169 - at Deborah, 105 00:03:51.949 --> 00:03:53.009 - to make sure that 106 00:03:53.469 --> 00:03:55.709 - that that golden rule stays in health care. 107 00:03:55.709 --> 00:03:58.689 - And now everyone is looked at with kindness 108 00:03:58.830 --> 00:04:00.530 - and empathy and compassion, 109 00:04:01.310 --> 00:04:03.310 - not just a a number on a balance 110 00:04:03.310 --> 00:04:04.209 - sheet or 111 00:04:04.685 --> 00:04:06.685 - as a a cog in a wheel. You 112 00:04:06.685 --> 00:04:07.504 - wanna prioritize 113 00:04:07.805 --> 00:04:10.125 - the individual. So I found that early in 114 00:04:10.125 --> 00:04:12.224 - life and carry it with me now. 115 00:04:12.764 --> 00:04:15.245 - That's an excellent outlook to have, especially in 116 00:04:15.245 --> 00:04:16.685 - health care, Jim. Do you still have that 117 00:04:16.685 --> 00:04:18.205 - book on your on your shelf, by the 118 00:04:18.205 --> 00:04:20.560 - way? I do. No. At home. I I 119 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:22.579 - don't bring it into the office, but, 120 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.399 - it's usually a a podcast or, you know, 121 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:28.560 - book on tape that I'll I'll listen to 122 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:30.259 - commuting every couple of years 123 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:32.595 - just to remind myself a lot of lessons. 124 00:04:32.834 --> 00:04:35.014 - The the references get a little bit dated. 125 00:04:35.475 --> 00:04:37.654 - That's true. We start talking about Abraham Lincoln 126 00:04:37.954 --> 00:04:40.514 - these days, but, the moral of the story 127 00:04:40.514 --> 00:04:43.714 - is is always true. So definitely encourage anyone 128 00:04:43.714 --> 00:04:46.595 - that hasn't exposed themselves to it to to 129 00:04:46.595 --> 00:04:47.415 - have a listen. 130 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:49.240 - Definitely. Definitely. 131 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:52.100 - So, Jim, you mentioned that the care journey 132 00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:53.560 - is not just one dimensional. 133 00:04:54.020 --> 00:04:56.180 - So with that in mind, my next question 134 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:58.199 - is simply, how do you keep yourself healthy, 135 00:04:58.340 --> 00:05:01.000 - and that's physically, emotionally, mentally, 136 00:05:01.460 --> 00:05:03.975 - and however you wanna define it? Starting with 137 00:05:03.975 --> 00:05:06.134 - those three, though. Yeah. I mean, those those 138 00:05:06.134 --> 00:05:07.754 - are the the big three. 139 00:05:08.855 --> 00:05:09.355 - Physically, 140 00:05:09.975 --> 00:05:12.295 - I'd say it helps to be married to 141 00:05:12.295 --> 00:05:12.955 - a vegan. 142 00:05:13.735 --> 00:05:15.995 - So I I'd say I'm vegan adjacent. 143 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:18.580 - If I'm adjacent to my wife, I am 144 00:05:18.580 --> 00:05:20.439 - vegan. We keep a vegan house. 145 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:22.520 - So I have a pretty well balanced, 146 00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:23.960 - diet. 147 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:26.500 - We my wife and I also do yoga 148 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:27.000 - together 149 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:28.520 - twice a week 150 00:05:28.975 --> 00:05:30.735 - and try to get to the gym as 151 00:05:30.735 --> 00:05:33.134 - much as possible, which usually means waking up 152 00:05:33.134 --> 00:05:35.314 - at 04:30 in the morning 153 00:05:35.694 --> 00:05:38.014 - to to get down there and do what 154 00:05:38.014 --> 00:05:39.074 - we gotta do. 155 00:05:39.615 --> 00:05:42.035 - That does help balance someone emotionally. 156 00:05:42.495 --> 00:05:42.995 - So, 157 00:05:43.449 --> 00:05:45.930 - the the three parts are not independent of 158 00:05:45.930 --> 00:05:46.589 - each other. 159 00:05:47.209 --> 00:05:49.709 - For emotional balance, I would say 160 00:05:50.089 --> 00:05:53.069 - keep your friends close and your mentors closer. 161 00:05:53.449 --> 00:05:55.289 - You need people to talk to that can 162 00:05:55.289 --> 00:05:56.990 - give you some advice and perspective. 163 00:05:57.675 --> 00:05:58.975 - I have one of my, 164 00:05:59.834 --> 00:06:00.814 - career mentors, 165 00:06:01.355 --> 00:06:02.735 - is actually on the board 166 00:06:03.115 --> 00:06:05.134 - here at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, 167 00:06:05.915 --> 00:06:08.555 - and he joins joined me when I started 168 00:06:08.555 --> 00:06:11.500 - this journey as president and CEO because I 169 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:13.259 - knew I needed the the help and the 170 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:14.160 - and the guidance. 171 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:15.360 - And, 172 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:18.220 - you know, what I try to do when 173 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:20.240 - I'm feeling a little stressed out, 174 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:23.500 - is to always remember that things are never 175 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:25.020 - as good as you want them to be 176 00:06:25.020 --> 00:06:26.894 - or as bad as you think they are. 177 00:06:27.294 --> 00:06:29.615 - And the expression in the office here, and 178 00:06:29.615 --> 00:06:30.974 - they they give me a little bit of 179 00:06:30.974 --> 00:06:32.194 - a hard time about it, 180 00:06:32.654 --> 00:06:34.595 - is just to to stay in the box. 181 00:06:35.375 --> 00:06:37.615 - Keep yourself balanced in the middle. Never get 182 00:06:37.615 --> 00:06:39.774 - too high, never get too low, and allow 183 00:06:39.774 --> 00:06:41.555 - you to ride out the waves. 184 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.180 - That's great advice, Jim. 185 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:48.180 - Thinking about, the whole vegan adjacent thing, was 186 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:50.500 - it something is is it something you find 187 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:53.459 - hard to adapt to with your diet? Or 188 00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:55.240 - is it, you know, something that 189 00:06:55.584 --> 00:06:57.185 - you've actually come to quite easily? How would 190 00:06:57.185 --> 00:06:58.164 - you describe that? 191 00:06:58.865 --> 00:07:00.084 - It's been a journey. 192 00:07:01.104 --> 00:07:04.144 - Obviously, my my wife made the decision long 193 00:07:04.144 --> 00:07:07.365 - before I did and slowly getting acclimated 194 00:07:07.745 --> 00:07:09.764 - to a plant forward lifestyle. 195 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.980 - I found the benefits of that 196 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.540 - both in my energy level as well 197 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.779 - as not getting cloudy headed 198 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.220 - after a 199 00:07:19.520 --> 00:07:22.180 - a a really heavy midday meal. 200 00:07:22.845 --> 00:07:24.305 - It it's just being mindful. 201 00:07:24.685 --> 00:07:26.125 - I mean, at the end of the day, 202 00:07:26.125 --> 00:07:27.805 - just wanna be mindful of what you're putting 203 00:07:27.805 --> 00:07:30.785 - into your your body. But at this juncture, 204 00:07:31.644 --> 00:07:33.245 - I'm I'm pretty used to it. So it 205 00:07:33.245 --> 00:07:35.485 - wasn't a a hard lift once you get 206 00:07:35.485 --> 00:07:35.985 - past 207 00:07:36.604 --> 00:07:38.064 - the the routine of 208 00:07:38.419 --> 00:07:41.060 - how you look at food and and how 209 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:43.220 - you, you know, start to look at it 210 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:45.000 - as energy more than anything else. 211 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:47.379 - Got it. Got it. And would you say 212 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:50.100 - that being vegan adjacent again, to use your 213 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:52.839 - term, but using the vegan plant forward lifestyle 214 00:07:52.979 --> 00:07:53.720 - as a guide, 215 00:07:54.634 --> 00:07:57.274 - it sounds like that would fit extremely well 216 00:07:57.274 --> 00:07:59.615 - with the yoga and all its mindfulness 217 00:07:59.995 --> 00:08:00.495 - teachings. 218 00:08:01.355 --> 00:08:03.035 - How how well do you do you find 219 00:08:03.035 --> 00:08:04.175 - those fitting together? 220 00:08:05.435 --> 00:08:07.055 - I incredibly well. 221 00:08:08.449 --> 00:08:11.169 - You know, the mindfulness in general is a 222 00:08:11.169 --> 00:08:13.810 - tool. It's not the the only tool someone 223 00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:17.009 - should have in their tool belt when they're 224 00:08:17.009 --> 00:08:17.750 - trying to 225 00:08:18.370 --> 00:08:21.509 - keep themselves both physically and emotionally balanced. 226 00:08:22.625 --> 00:08:25.504 - I know other friends that love to run 227 00:08:25.504 --> 00:08:27.845 - or or enjoy team sports. 228 00:08:28.545 --> 00:08:30.465 - For me, it's I I tend to go 229 00:08:30.465 --> 00:08:33.205 - inward. So anything where I can 230 00:08:33.665 --> 00:08:36.004 - harness that mindfulness, breathing exercises. 231 00:08:36.730 --> 00:08:38.889 - Truth be told, I'm not the best public 232 00:08:38.889 --> 00:08:40.190 - speaker. I still get 233 00:08:40.649 --> 00:08:43.870 - very nervous before speaking in front of crowds. 234 00:08:43.929 --> 00:08:46.830 - Yoga has given me the the breathing techniques 235 00:08:46.889 --> 00:08:48.889 - to kinda settle my nerves before I have 236 00:08:48.889 --> 00:08:50.684 - to get in front of a crowd. So 237 00:08:50.684 --> 00:08:53.164 - it all comes into play into the career 238 00:08:53.164 --> 00:08:53.745 - as well. 239 00:08:54.605 --> 00:08:56.764 - I'm sure you're not alone as far as, 240 00:08:58.044 --> 00:08:58.544 - trepidation 241 00:08:58.924 --> 00:09:01.884 - and public speaking are concerned, Jim, but I'm 242 00:09:01.884 --> 00:09:03.565 - I'm glad that you're you're working on that. 243 00:09:03.565 --> 00:09:05.404 - And it sounds like you're well on your 244 00:09:05.404 --> 00:09:07.600 - way to to to mastering as best you 245 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:08.100 - can. 246 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.039 - Yeah. And then you had mentioned mentally as 247 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.080 - well. Yes. 248 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.039 - The one thing I I will say on 249 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.100 - that front is 250 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:18.340 - is just to continue to 251 00:09:18.865 --> 00:09:19.684 - to learn, 252 00:09:19.985 --> 00:09:21.125 - always be learning. 253 00:09:21.665 --> 00:09:24.144 - I think some people think, oh, I've become 254 00:09:24.144 --> 00:09:26.965 - president and CEO and you start to 255 00:09:27.665 --> 00:09:29.365 - to coast a little bit, but 256 00:09:29.745 --> 00:09:31.764 - the learning curve is so steep. 257 00:09:32.225 --> 00:09:34.485 - Obviously, people can't see me on this podcast. 258 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.139 - I I took this job at 42, 259 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:39.820 - 44 now. 260 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:43.740 - That's really up to to be a presidency 261 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:44.620 - of a 262 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:45.740 - a hospital. 263 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.399 - I get dropped into an incredibly steep learning 264 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.504 - curve to go uphill from, 265 00:09:52.125 --> 00:09:53.024 - board management, 266 00:09:53.644 --> 00:09:55.504 - public speaking we mentioned before, 267 00:09:56.365 --> 00:09:59.024 - different leadership tools and philosophies. So 268 00:09:59.404 --> 00:10:00.545 - never stop learning. 269 00:10:01.085 --> 00:10:03.404 - Always make sure that whatever you're doing, you're 270 00:10:03.404 --> 00:10:06.850 - challenging yourself to see things from different perspectives 271 00:10:07.309 --> 00:10:09.490 - or challenge your own perspective 272 00:10:10.269 --> 00:10:12.830 - just to ensure that you're you're always mentally 273 00:10:12.830 --> 00:10:13.330 - stimulated. 274 00:10:14.429 --> 00:10:16.590 - Jim, that makes a ton of sense. And 275 00:10:16.590 --> 00:10:19.014 - I'm glad you mentioned the learning curve as 276 00:10:19.014 --> 00:10:22.375 - well as, your analogy, your your image that 277 00:10:22.375 --> 00:10:24.054 - you painted for us of staying in the 278 00:10:24.054 --> 00:10:24.554 - box, 279 00:10:24.934 --> 00:10:27.014 - because that relates to my next question, which 280 00:10:27.014 --> 00:10:29.014 - is when you have tough days because you're 281 00:10:29.014 --> 00:10:30.154 - going to have them, 282 00:10:30.774 --> 00:10:32.455 - where or to whom do you try to 283 00:10:32.455 --> 00:10:34.800 - move forward? You mentioned, of course, the mindfulness 284 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:38.080 - and the mentors. So what specific examples of 285 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.300 - how you move forward 286 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:40.740 - stand out to you? 287 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.620 - Yeah. I mean, Chris, on the hardest days, 288 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.379 - you and 289 00:10:46.254 --> 00:10:48.174 - I don't mean to say this and and 290 00:10:48.174 --> 00:10:50.514 - freak anyone in my my own hospital 291 00:10:51.375 --> 00:10:53.454 - out, but on the hardest days, I I 292 00:10:53.454 --> 00:10:55.074 - go walk around the hospital. 293 00:10:56.334 --> 00:10:59.279 - Walk the halls, round on the the floors, 294 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:02.080 - connect with the team members here. 295 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:05.820 - There's never gonna be a day in in 296 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:06.320 - my 297 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:08.160 - life or career 298 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:10.799 - that's gonna be as bad as, 299 00:11:11.335 --> 00:11:13.835 - someone that's stressed out about stressed out about 300 00:11:14.134 --> 00:11:15.034 - a loved one 301 00:11:15.495 --> 00:11:18.154 - that's in the procedure room or 302 00:11:18.455 --> 00:11:19.674 - someone that's recovering 303 00:11:20.134 --> 00:11:20.634 - from 304 00:11:21.095 --> 00:11:22.315 - open heart surgery. 305 00:11:23.014 --> 00:11:23.514 - And 306 00:11:24.190 --> 00:11:26.269 - if you want things to be put in 307 00:11:26.269 --> 00:11:26.769 - perspective 308 00:11:27.149 --> 00:11:27.889 - for you, 309 00:11:29.070 --> 00:11:30.850 - when you're having a bad day, 310 00:11:31.310 --> 00:11:33.330 - you'd see someone walking around 311 00:11:33.710 --> 00:11:34.610 - the ICU 312 00:11:35.310 --> 00:11:37.815 - making that first or second lap around the 313 00:11:37.815 --> 00:11:40.294 - ICU as they're recovering and just getting back 314 00:11:40.294 --> 00:11:43.514 - on their feet after having open heart surgery, 315 00:11:43.894 --> 00:11:46.054 - you're gonna realize real quick that your day 316 00:11:46.054 --> 00:11:49.095 - as a health care administrator is not going 317 00:11:49.095 --> 00:11:52.214 - as bad as you you really think it 318 00:11:52.214 --> 00:11:52.714 - is. 319 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.620 - And 320 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.320 - and you feed off of the the strength 321 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:57.139 - of the team, 322 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.100 - and 323 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:00.419 - you get that that levity, 324 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.679 - and and you push forward. But but, yeah, 325 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.904 - I I I walk around. Not all the 326 00:12:05.904 --> 00:12:07.745 - time. So if I people are listening off 327 00:12:07.745 --> 00:12:09.585 - from my hospital, and they see me walking 328 00:12:09.585 --> 00:12:11.524 - around, I'm not having a stressful day, 329 00:12:12.144 --> 00:12:14.144 - all the time. But but on the bad 330 00:12:14.144 --> 00:12:15.924 - ones, I I I try to 331 00:12:16.225 --> 00:12:18.144 - get up on my feet, walk around, and 332 00:12:18.144 --> 00:12:19.924 - and gain a little bit of perspective. 333 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:23.059 - Yeah, Jim. Happy to to provide that. I'm 334 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:25.860 - glad you provided that disclaimer of, you know, 335 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.460 - say, hey. You know, just because you see 336 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:29.220 - Jim doesn't mean he's having a bad day. 337 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.200 - He's still approachable. 338 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.340 - And, you know, not all not all things 339 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.259 - are are going poorly for him. Certainly, that 340 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.639 - that's not always the case. 341 00:12:36.394 --> 00:12:37.995 - Good to know, certainly. But, yeah, I I 342 00:12:37.995 --> 00:12:39.595 - love the perspective that you have on just 343 00:12:39.595 --> 00:12:40.095 - saying 344 00:12:40.475 --> 00:12:42.735 - to yourself, hey. Let let me see 345 00:12:44.075 --> 00:12:44.815 - what exactly 346 00:12:45.195 --> 00:12:46.875 - is going on every day at this hospital, 347 00:12:46.875 --> 00:12:48.235 - which which you know of. But to see 348 00:12:48.235 --> 00:12:50.335 - it yeah. I I think a lot of, 349 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:53.139 - of our audience members would agree that it's 350 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:55.700 - a great place to get perspective on on 351 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.600 - your own. The 352 00:12:57.139 --> 00:13:00.680 - philosophy here is smiles are contagious, and I 353 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:03.220 - I know that's the the same philosophy at 354 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.920 - a lot of other health care organizations. 355 00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:08.184 - But if you can pass a smile along, 356 00:13:08.725 --> 00:13:12.004 - it's gonna get returned to you. And in 357 00:13:12.004 --> 00:13:12.504 - likelihood, 358 00:13:13.125 --> 00:13:15.365 - both people are gonna pass that smile to 359 00:13:15.365 --> 00:13:16.345 - someone else. 360 00:13:17.205 --> 00:13:17.705 - So 361 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:20.940 - go downstairs, catch some smiles, and and try 362 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:22.559 - to feel better about the day. 363 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:25.120 - Great idea. Great idea, Jim. 364 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:27.840 - Alright. So my next question for you 365 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:30.940 - is simply, what is something that you've learned 366 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:31.840 - about yourself 367 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.840 - from working in health care? 368 00:13:34.985 --> 00:13:36.285 - I mean, we touched on 369 00:13:36.664 --> 00:13:38.745 - the the golden rule, which I think is, 370 00:13:39.705 --> 00:13:41.865 - why I got into the health care in 371 00:13:41.865 --> 00:13:44.524 - the first place and I I try to 372 00:13:44.664 --> 00:13:45.804 - to live by that. 373 00:13:46.585 --> 00:13:49.065 - The biggest takeaway probably is I'm a bad 374 00:13:49.065 --> 00:13:49.565 - patient. 375 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.720 - I try to be a better patient. You 376 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.459 - know, working in health care is a very 377 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.600 - good reminder of how much you need to 378 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.700 - continue to go see your PCP, 379 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.940 - be mindful of your heart health, 380 00:14:04.424 --> 00:14:07.565 - and get your annual screenings on everything. And 381 00:14:07.785 --> 00:14:10.105 - I I think health care workers in general 382 00:14:10.105 --> 00:14:12.745 - make bad patients. I am a particularly bad 383 00:14:12.745 --> 00:14:14.044 - one. So, 384 00:14:14.585 --> 00:14:17.384 - that I I've learned that real quick in 385 00:14:17.384 --> 00:14:19.625 - in my twenty years of of being in 386 00:14:19.625 --> 00:14:21.279 - health care, and I it's still a lesson 387 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.179 - I'm trying to improve upon every day. 388 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.379 - But but I ended up in health care 389 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:29.839 - by choice. Some of the first seven years 390 00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:31.620 - of my career, I was with PricewaterhouseCoopers, 391 00:14:33.144 --> 00:14:35.485 - and I was in their advisory practice 392 00:14:36.264 --> 00:14:38.024 - and going around the country consulting on a 393 00:14:38.024 --> 00:14:40.345 - bunch of different clients, whether it was banking 394 00:14:40.345 --> 00:14:40.845 - or 395 00:14:41.384 --> 00:14:41.884 - utilities, 396 00:14:43.225 --> 00:14:45.465 - definitely a lot in the financial sector. But 397 00:14:45.465 --> 00:14:47.804 - I started to work for healthcare organizations, 398 00:14:48.870 --> 00:14:49.370 - And 399 00:14:50.470 --> 00:14:52.629 - and I fell in love with it, not 400 00:14:52.629 --> 00:14:53.690 - because of 401 00:14:54.149 --> 00:14:56.809 - the subject matter, because you can build databases 402 00:14:57.029 --> 00:14:58.649 - and do strategic planning, 403 00:14:59.429 --> 00:15:00.970 - for for any sector, 404 00:15:01.429 --> 00:15:02.730 - but because of the people. 405 00:15:03.485 --> 00:15:04.865 - And the people in healthcare 406 00:15:05.565 --> 00:15:06.865 - is what brought me 407 00:15:07.325 --> 00:15:10.044 - into healthcare delivery, and where I get my 408 00:15:10.044 --> 00:15:12.205 - job at Brigham and Women's Hospital after I 409 00:15:12.205 --> 00:15:12.945 - left PwC. 410 00:15:13.884 --> 00:15:14.384 - And 411 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:18.100 - it's something that I I learned about myself 412 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.860 - pretty early in my career is that I 413 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.879 - need to be surrounded by good people 414 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.159 - to be happy 415 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:26.120 - in what I'm doing. So the the 416 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:29.324 - GPS that I use when I I look 417 00:15:29.324 --> 00:15:30.945 - at my own career is 418 00:15:31.485 --> 00:15:32.704 - is what I'm doing, 419 00:15:33.164 --> 00:15:35.485 - who I'm doing it with, and how I'm 420 00:15:35.485 --> 00:15:35.985 - valued. 421 00:15:36.524 --> 00:15:38.764 - And who I do it with is really 422 00:15:38.764 --> 00:15:41.584 - important for me, and it's gotta be good 423 00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:43.840 - humans first and foremost 424 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.899 - if I'm gonna be happy where I'm at 425 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.220 - in my career. And and I think that 426 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.919 - knowing that about myself 427 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.080 - has made a a big difference. 428 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:53.919 - Jim, 429 00:15:54.805 --> 00:15:56.264 - how do you go about 430 00:15:56.805 --> 00:15:58.345 - applying that philosophy 431 00:16:00.565 --> 00:16:02.345 - to those who come into 432 00:16:02.725 --> 00:16:03.225 - Deborah 433 00:16:03.764 --> 00:16:04.264 - as 434 00:16:04.644 --> 00:16:06.884 - whether they've been in health care for a 435 00:16:06.884 --> 00:16:08.185 - long time or not? 436 00:16:09.210 --> 00:16:10.909 - Again, you wanna treat people 437 00:16:11.370 --> 00:16:13.870 - the way that you want to be treated. 438 00:16:14.169 --> 00:16:17.070 - And if I just take those three things, 439 00:16:18.970 --> 00:16:20.269 - of what they're doing, 440 00:16:20.730 --> 00:16:22.590 - who they're doing it for, 441 00:16:22.985 --> 00:16:24.605 - and and how they're valued. 442 00:16:25.065 --> 00:16:25.565 - Everybody 443 00:16:25.865 --> 00:16:27.945 - here at Deborah, there's over a thousand of 444 00:16:27.945 --> 00:16:29.325 - us that work at our 445 00:16:29.785 --> 00:16:31.004 - 94 bed 446 00:16:32.264 --> 00:16:32.764 - independent 447 00:16:33.225 --> 00:16:34.524 - specialty hospital, 448 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.200 - but all 1,000 449 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.720 - of them, I want them to be a 450 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.779 - three out of three. 451 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.299 - I want them to 452 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:42.779 - love what they're doing from a 453 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.659 - responsibility 454 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.899 - standpoint. I want them to 455 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.220 - love who they do it for 456 00:16:48.605 --> 00:16:49.585 - from a organizational 457 00:16:49.965 --> 00:16:52.705 - leadership perspective, but also for what this organization 458 00:16:52.925 --> 00:16:54.305 - means in health care. 459 00:16:54.684 --> 00:16:55.504 - We are 460 00:16:55.805 --> 00:16:58.384 - carrying on a a mission of 461 00:16:58.845 --> 00:17:01.245 - of caring for people in a manner that 462 00:17:01.245 --> 00:17:03.024 - no one else does in the country, 463 00:17:03.730 --> 00:17:05.830 - from a financial support standpoint. 464 00:17:06.529 --> 00:17:07.029 - And 465 00:17:08.049 --> 00:17:10.130 - and that's something that's bigger than all of 466 00:17:10.130 --> 00:17:12.049 - us. And I want them to believe in 467 00:17:12.049 --> 00:17:13.430 - that mission and and wanna 468 00:17:14.049 --> 00:17:16.210 - further that mission because I think it's the 469 00:17:16.210 --> 00:17:19.065 - the last vestige of what's great about health 470 00:17:19.065 --> 00:17:19.804 - care now. 471 00:17:20.345 --> 00:17:22.924 - And I want them to feel valued, 472 00:17:23.224 --> 00:17:24.684 - whether that's extrinsically, 473 00:17:25.464 --> 00:17:28.825 - and having fair and equitable wages or or 474 00:17:28.825 --> 00:17:29.325 - intrinsically 475 00:17:29.865 --> 00:17:33.049 - and them feeling hurt, like they're contributing to 476 00:17:33.049 --> 00:17:34.190 - the direction of 477 00:17:34.730 --> 00:17:35.390 - the organization. 478 00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:37.230 - We just got done with 479 00:17:37.609 --> 00:17:39.070 - a $100,000,000 480 00:17:39.849 --> 00:17:40.910 - capital improvement 481 00:17:41.609 --> 00:17:42.670 - project, which 482 00:17:43.210 --> 00:17:45.950 - upgraded all the rooms across the hospital to 483 00:17:46.484 --> 00:17:48.585 - individual patient rooms. And, 484 00:17:49.525 --> 00:17:51.525 - we built a mock room down in the 485 00:17:51.525 --> 00:17:52.025 - cafeteria, 486 00:17:52.484 --> 00:17:54.565 - and we let all of our employees put 487 00:17:54.565 --> 00:17:56.664 - post its notes. We have post its from 488 00:17:57.045 --> 00:17:59.365 - the EVS team around, oh, this is gonna 489 00:17:59.365 --> 00:18:01.349 - be too tight for me to really work 490 00:18:01.349 --> 00:18:03.029 - with them. We had post its from the 491 00:18:03.029 --> 00:18:05.509 - nursing team that says, you know, when the 492 00:18:05.509 --> 00:18:07.910 - nozzles were here for the oxygen, it really 493 00:18:07.910 --> 00:18:09.049 - gets in the way of, 494 00:18:09.509 --> 00:18:11.670 - what we're trying to do, and and we 495 00:18:11.670 --> 00:18:13.130 - let the team design 496 00:18:13.565 --> 00:18:15.804 - the new space for our patients. And I 497 00:18:15.804 --> 00:18:17.265 - think as a result of that, 498 00:18:18.045 --> 00:18:20.285 - both the team's happier, and they see that 499 00:18:20.285 --> 00:18:21.664 - their input is 500 00:18:22.045 --> 00:18:24.204 - is heard and seen. You just gotta do 501 00:18:24.204 --> 00:18:26.204 - that every single day, three hundred and sixty 502 00:18:26.204 --> 00:18:27.184 - five days a year. 503 00:18:28.049 --> 00:18:29.669 - Seems like a very simple, 504 00:18:30.049 --> 00:18:33.109 - straightforward, but no doubt very powerful and effective, 505 00:18:33.730 --> 00:18:35.970 - message and method that you have at Devora 506 00:18:35.970 --> 00:18:36.470 - Gym. 507 00:18:37.169 --> 00:18:40.214 - Finally, my question last question for you is, 508 00:18:40.694 --> 00:18:42.934 - and and certainly one risk that you've taken 509 00:18:42.934 --> 00:18:43.994 - that's paid off 510 00:18:44.615 --> 00:18:47.355 - is coming to health care in particular. 511 00:18:47.974 --> 00:18:49.994 - But whether it's that 512 00:18:50.534 --> 00:18:51.835 - or another risk, 513 00:18:52.390 --> 00:18:54.230 - what do you look back on your life, 514 00:18:54.230 --> 00:18:55.669 - your career, and say, you know what? I'm 515 00:18:55.669 --> 00:18:57.210 - so glad I made that decision. 516 00:18:58.630 --> 00:18:59.609 - Not to sound 517 00:19:00.069 --> 00:19:02.470 - sound corny, but, I will I will say 518 00:19:02.470 --> 00:19:03.210 - this because 519 00:19:04.069 --> 00:19:05.769 - I think if you talk to 520 00:19:06.194 --> 00:19:06.855 - most CEOs, 521 00:19:09.075 --> 00:19:11.154 - most of their risks are gonna have to 522 00:19:11.154 --> 00:19:13.654 - have paid off. Right? You don't get necessarily, 523 00:19:15.234 --> 00:19:15.734 - to 524 00:19:16.194 --> 00:19:16.515 - to, 525 00:19:17.075 --> 00:19:18.454 - levels in your career 526 00:19:18.914 --> 00:19:19.414 - unless 527 00:19:19.794 --> 00:19:21.174 - a lot of things align 528 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.900 - and and everything works out. So, 529 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.680 - I 530 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.600 - I wouldn't have any alignment, 531 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.759 - if not for 532 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.980 - taking a risk and going on a blind 533 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.480 - date, 534 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:35.340 - to meet a girl fifteen years ago and 535 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.315 - and found a 536 00:19:36.875 --> 00:19:39.595 - a partner in in my health care journey. 537 00:19:39.595 --> 00:19:41.274 - She my wife is also a health care 538 00:19:41.274 --> 00:19:41.774 - administrator. 539 00:19:42.954 --> 00:19:45.994 - But, you know, without that risk, I wouldn't 540 00:19:45.994 --> 00:19:47.534 - have the support structure 541 00:19:48.315 --> 00:19:48.815 - or 542 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:52.519 - the the ability to to balance myself at 543 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.940 - home and and have that same, 544 00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:56.059 - you know, 545 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:59.000 - value of of what I was trying to 546 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.980 - do in my career, 547 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.099 - if not for taking that risk. Right? But, 548 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:05.945 - you know, that that was the biggest. It 549 00:20:05.945 --> 00:20:07.945 - allowed me to have the strength and the 550 00:20:07.945 --> 00:20:08.445 - support 551 00:20:08.985 --> 00:20:10.825 - to to take all the other risks, going 552 00:20:10.825 --> 00:20:11.325 - from 553 00:20:11.945 --> 00:20:14.045 - Brigham and Women's Hospital to 554 00:20:14.825 --> 00:20:15.325 - RWJBarnes 555 00:20:15.865 --> 00:20:17.245 - Health in Northern New Jersey 556 00:20:17.630 --> 00:20:18.369 - to take 557 00:20:18.670 --> 00:20:21.549 - a a broader scope in my career and 558 00:20:21.549 --> 00:20:24.029 - and really dive into service lines at a 559 00:20:24.029 --> 00:20:25.869 - scale given the size of that health care 560 00:20:25.869 --> 00:20:26.369 - system, 561 00:20:26.990 --> 00:20:28.289 - that isn't really 562 00:20:29.470 --> 00:20:30.674 - can't really be found, 563 00:20:31.235 --> 00:20:32.855 - in many places in the country, 564 00:20:33.475 --> 00:20:33.975 - to 565 00:20:34.355 --> 00:20:36.934 - shifting from service lines to becoming a 566 00:20:37.235 --> 00:20:39.154 - a president and CEO of a of a 567 00:20:39.154 --> 00:20:41.815 - hospital, which was a a different type of 568 00:20:42.929 --> 00:20:44.450 - set of tools that you have to have 569 00:20:44.450 --> 00:20:46.289 - in your career than just being a service 570 00:20:46.289 --> 00:20:47.029 - line leader. 571 00:20:47.649 --> 00:20:49.490 - Wouldn't have been able to do any of 572 00:20:49.490 --> 00:20:52.450 - that, if not for for rolling the dice 573 00:20:52.450 --> 00:20:54.710 - and and going out for a drink. 574 00:20:55.095 --> 00:20:56.315 - Fifteen years ago 575 00:20:56.694 --> 00:20:58.875 - after I ended my shift at the hospital, 576 00:20:59.654 --> 00:21:01.414 - to to meet a girl at a bar 577 00:21:01.414 --> 00:21:04.134 - in Boston. Sounds very goodwill hunting, but it 578 00:21:04.214 --> 00:21:06.075 - that is, the truth of it. 579 00:21:06.615 --> 00:21:08.039 - Well, Jim, let those who would call it 580 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.360 - corny call it that. Who cares, really? It's 581 00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:11.660 - it's led you to this 582 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:14.119 - wonderful journey that you've had in in health 583 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:16.360 - care. Thank you so much for sharing, you 584 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:18.039 - know, your mentor. Shout out again to your 585 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.259 - teacher who put that, 586 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:21.559 - you know, how to win friends and influence 587 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.059 - people. 588 00:21:22.914 --> 00:21:25.394 - Book in your hand. You know, you said 589 00:21:25.394 --> 00:21:27.634 - you're a bad patient, but you're learning. It's 590 00:21:27.634 --> 00:21:29.714 - all part about part of the learning process 591 00:21:29.714 --> 00:21:31.714 - in health care. Yeah. Just thank you for 592 00:21:31.714 --> 00:21:33.955 - sharing your your philosophy and and how you've 593 00:21:33.955 --> 00:21:35.335 - applied that to your career. 594 00:21:36.109 --> 00:21:38.369 - Thank you, Chris. I really appreciate the opportunity. 595 00:21:39.150 --> 00:21:41.150 - Thank you to Beckers. Thank you to the 596 00:21:41.150 --> 00:21:43.090 - team here at the Borah Hart Law Center. 597 00:21:43.549 --> 00:21:45.650 - Fantastic, Tim. And we'll see you come 598 00:21:46.830 --> 00:21:49.090 - this fall, I believe. Yeah. Absolutely. 599 00:21:49.549 --> 00:21:51.250 - I'm very excited for the 600 00:21:51.765 --> 00:21:53.285 - for the meeting, so I will be there 601 00:21:53.285 --> 00:21:56.884 - to join you all. Wonderful. Thanks, Jim. Alright. 602 00:21:56.884 --> 00:21:57.785 - Thank you, Chris.