Direct Line from Max Buetow for 9/30/22

Sept. 30, 2022

Caring for our teams’ mental well-being

The last few years have been challenging for all of us in health care. With the weight of the pandemic, it is hard for me to imagine some of the pain and suffering our caregivers have been through. Health care has always been a stressful field, and I know people have given of themselves to the point where they have been running at a deficit.

Our leadership team and I are committed to supporting the people who devote their lives to our mission. Next week, we will take the next major step in providing that support with the launch of a new partnership.

I am proud to announce that beginning on Oct. 3, we are offering employees, their dependents, and Cox College students free access to mental wellness resources through Modern Health. 

Modern Health is a unified mental wellness platform that will make it simple for our colleagues to access personalized mental health care in the way that works best for them. The platform offers a tailored experience and access to a network of mental health professionals providing 24/7 support.

This new resource represents a significant investment in our teams. Modern Health is an industry leader, offering a comprehensive platform that is a substantial upgrade from our current Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

Modern Health will offer six free counseling sessions and six free coaching sessions annually through the platform.

We are launching this resource at a pivotal time for our organization, and it plays a key role in our strategic direction. As we prepare to roll out our strategic plan, we have made workforce experience a central pillar. 

Our workforce is at the core of all we do, and we first have to take care of ourselves to continue to be the best for those who need us. As leaders, supporting the people who care for our patients is among our most important duties.

Supporting our workforce is vital to CoxHealth’s continued success, and launching Modern Health is a needed step. More importantly, it is the right thing to do for our colleagues who give so much of themselves to our organization and our mission.

We know many of our colleagues are facing challenges, and we will continue to be intentional in helping our people connect, recharge, and get access to the support they need.

A different side of health care

When I round in our hospitals, I am always reminded of how many different career paths support the work we do in health care. Caring for our patients goes beyond the clinical disciplines, and so many roles are essential to making CoxHealth run smoothly. This week we highlighted Daniel Deck, a CoxHealth lead engineer, on our Facebook page. Daniel is a great example of how different skillsets contribute to patient care.

“Since starting 27 years ago, I was able to see the level of work it takes to provide the best care possible to patients. From engineering and Environmental Services, to doctors and nurses, each of our skillsets are important and contribute to the overall patient experience,” Daniel says.

When patients step into our facilities, sometimes it’s hard to see past those giving you direct care. It’s amazing to see our teams understand the value of patient care at all levels, and recognize how each team member contributes to caring for the community. 

Thank you, Daniel, for all of the work from you and your team! See Daniel’s story here.

Cox Barton County receives national recognition

Cox Barton County Hospital was recently named in the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Top 20 list of “Best Practice” in the quality category for critical access hospitals (CAHs). I am extremely proud of the work our teams are doing and happy they are getting well-deserved recognition.

Last week, Cox Barton received the award at NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in Kansas City. The “Best Practice” award means that Cox Barton is ranked in the Top 20 hospitals in quality care across the United States and is the only CAH in Missouri to be named to the list. Read more on our website at this link.

‘Battle For Bell’ to benefit CoxHealth ALS Clinic on Oct. 1

The Drury University and Missouri State baseball teams are hosting the 5th Annual “Battle for Bell” baseball game on Saturday. The game will be on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hammons Field at 6:30 p.m.; gates open at 5:30 p.m. This event celebrates the life of Glendale Baseball Coach Howard Bell who passed from ALS, and all proceeds benefit the CoxHealth ALS Clinic and the Patient Care Fund.

You can purchase your tickets at the gate with a card, and be sure to bring your kids – kids 13 and under get in free! To learn more about this cause, visit our CoxHealth Foundation page here.

Voice of the Patient

Adapted from patient feedback at the Cox South Emergency Department: “All the nurses and staff we were in contact with were wonderful. Our doctor was so kind and very thorough. Thank you for taking such good care of my mom!”

Thank you for all you do,

Max