Turn the Page

On this final Friday of 2021, my first idea (plan A) was to write a column about the good things on the horizon this upcoming year for UMMC. I do indeed have a great deal of optimism and enthusiasm for 2022 and the longer-term future of UMMC. However, as so often has been the case the last two years, I have shifted to plan B or C or D or X ,Y, Z……… or wherever we are now. The Omicron variant and the increasing numbers of new cases of COVID-19 causes me to take a deep breath and pause.

We have much to be proud of and even celebrate from this last year. We have not only survived but have made progress. I am not the same person I was 24 months ago and am confident that everyone reading this feels the same way about themselves. We have learned a lot about this virus and how to live with it in a more chronic manner. We have lost friends and loved ones. Most all areas of our lives have been impacted. But we have made it.
Next week, I will share a look back on the two most recent fiscal/academic years via our newly released biannual report covering fiscal years 2020 and 2021. When reviewed comprehensively across our three mission areas, those 24 months were like none other in Medical Center history.

We have provided outstanding care to so many very sick patients. When patients have been too sick for their local hospitals, we have said yes over and over and over again. We have had to say no a few times – but many more times over we have said yes.

We continued to advance science and teach students. In research and education, we saw record numbers of grant dollars received as well as impressive high numbers of applicants to our health professional schools. We continued to do the hard work in supply chain, DIS, HR, facilities, police and all other administrative services to keep UMMC running.

The work required by the pandemic has come at a cost. We are tired. Two years into this pandemic, it is still a challenge for science to prevail. Some members of our UMMC family made decisions to leave us. The tension between the call of duty and everything else is crushing at times. We are fighting with every health care entity in the country for staff. This is hard.

But we made it through 2020 and 2021 and I am proud of where we are. I am proud of the privilege we hold as Mississippi’s only academic medical center and the special honor and responsibility that comes with that distinction.
As I said earlier, I am optimistic about 2022 and what the future holds. In 2022, we will continue to focus on what is in front of us. We will continue to try to “give the world the best we have.” (I shared that Mother Theresa quote earlier this week on Twitter.). We will keep doing the next best and right thing for those depending on us.
My optimism is based on real things worthy of hopefulness. A few key points to note:

• Children’s Expansion – It has been a little more than a year since the first patient walked through the door into the Sanderson Tower. I am excited about the positive impact on Children’s of Mississippi operations and the Medical Center the $180 million-dollar facility will have. I’m amazed every time I drive by the beautiful building. We are also extending our services across the state to ensure more children in MS receive the specialty care they need.
  
  
• Clinical Quality – Over the past several years, we have made great progress in our clinical quality metrics.
  Recently, during Executive Leadership and Leadership Rounds meetings, presentations from teams out of the Chief Medical Office boost my optimism that we can expect more positive outcomes. If I add ongoing work in our Office of Patient Experience, reasons for optimism increase. (Data points related to patient experience are used to factor clinical quality scores.) Also, we are making very good progress in our efforts around patient throughput, coding and documentation. Things are moving in the right direction in clinical quality, which has been and continues to be our top strategic priority.
  
  
• Strong Financial Standing – We followed up a financially difficult FY20 with a stronger FY21. At the end of the first five months in the current year, we are doing better financially than budgeted. As the year continues, we will carefully monitor our financial performance. Workforce shortages causing bed closures will certainly have a negative impact on our financial performance. Despite this, we are working hard to make wise investments and to meet our budget projections. Fiscal discipline and steady financial footing will allow us to improve operations in all mission areas, to invest in our workforce, and to expand access and improve the health care experience for all Mississippians.
  
  
• Strong Leadership Team – As we begin 2022, we have several new faces on our leadership team. I’m pleased with the new additions in hospital administration and Medical Center finance and budget that were noted in the Oct. 8 VC Notes. Other new leaders or those in new roles who assumed their duties in the past year – including our most recent addition, new Chief Nursing Executive Dr. Kris Cherry, – will make significant contributions in 2022. Every ship has a captain, but it takes effective leadership at other levels to stay on course. These leaders are trusted with making key decisions and overseeing our most important programs, and I’m optimistic about the Medical Center’s future in their hands.
  
  
• My Excitement About YOU – During 2020 and 2021 the entire state of Mississippi witnessed what I already knew – UMMC’s workforce is one of this state’s greatest resources. I wrote recently about how much of a privilege it is to work here. It is a great privilege to work ALONGSIDE you. You are what makes UMMC great and why I feel privileged to be here. I will go into every new year with a certain level of optimism because I know we are in this together.
  
  
• Academics – it’s what distinguishes us – I’m also heading into 2022 optimistic based on recent successes from our education and research missions. National recognition of our research programs is increasing and external funding for our research projects is at an all-time high. For our schools, how could I not expect good things following a year where we set new high marks for applications received and total enrollment. Students and faculty of the seven schools are bright lights in Mississippi who are promises of not only a good 2022, but are cause for optimism about the decades to come. These two mission areas certainly are reasons for 2022 optimism.

Some other things that instill optimism in me as we start this new year are the positive impact on recruiting and retention we expect from the newly implemented Workforce Compensation Plan, successfully completing the first year of our new strategic plan, UMMC 2025, and the availability of and easy access to COVID-19 vaccine boosters to just about everyone.

The past two years have been tough. However, let’s enter 2022 with a level of realistic optimism to position us best for a successful year. The pandemic is not yet over. We are already seeing a surge of new COVID-19 cases caused by the new variant. We have learned so much about this virus. As we continue to adapt and learn, we must also keep our eye on the future and our important strategic initiatives.

I’m going to share again three vital attributes that I have shared before. Without question, during 2020 and 2021, I witnessed these three attributes in you EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Courage. Persistence. Grace.

If we hold true to ourselves, our missions and each other and hold true to the meanings of those three words, this will be a great year and at the end of it, we will be closer to A Healthier Mississippi.