As part of our journey toward Baldrige Excellence, GBMC HealthCare continues to open our doors—and our minds—to learn from and share with others committed to high-quality, patient-centered care.
This week, as part of the Quest for Excellence Conference, we had the distinct honor of hosting leaders from Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) in Ames, Iowa—2019 Baldrige Award recipients. I was especially proud to see Brian Dieter, President & CEO of MGMC, receive the Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award—an honor I was fortunate to receive in 2022.
Our teams shared best practices, including how our Pediatrics team, led by Sarae Baum, is improving access for our sickest patients, and how Interventional Radiology, under the leadership of Leticia Armstrong, has helped to reduce the number of late case starts. The MGMC team joined our Executive Lean Management System (LMS) walk and saw firsthand how our commitment to improvement is making a real difference for patients.
Later in the week, we had the privilege of welcoming delegates from the China Association for Quality. I was happy to introduce our guests through the GBMC Leadership System and joined our Performance Improvement and Innovation team, led by Michele Patchett, as we showcased our work on hospital flow and system design.
These conversations—spanning states and continents—reinforce that while we may operate in different contexts, our commitment to delivering better care transcends borders.
A heartfelt thank you to our GBMC team members who helped us host these visits:
- Michele Patchett, Director of Process Improvement/Innovation
- Lisa Groff Reuschling, Senior Clinical Nursing Director - Labor and Delivery
- Jason Cole, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
- Erlene Washington, Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partner
- Jack Flowers, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
- Eve Bowmaster, Senior Director Quality and Patient Safety - Ambulatory Services
- Sarah Muslim Lefebvre, Senior Program Manager for System Improvement
- Brian Dieter, President & Chief Executive Officer
- Karen Kiel Rosser, Vice President & Quality Improvement Officer
- Amber Deardorff, Manager, Organizational Excellence
From the China Association for Quality:
- Dr. Duan Yonggang (Tony), Executive Vice President & Secretary-General
- Dr. Chen Shilin, President of the Chinese Medicine Branch and Professor at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Mr. Hou Jinfeng (Jeremy), Deputy Secretary-General and Leader of the China Quality Award Program
- Mr. Li Tiegang, Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Legal Branch
- Mr. Lin Hai (Danny), Chief Strategic Branding Consultant
- Ms. Wang Shengqi (Cherlyn), Deputy Director, International Exchange Department
- Mr. Paul Grizzell, President of Core Values Partners, Inc., Foreign Evaluation Expert and Academic Committee Member for CAQ
As we reflect on these meaningful visits, let’s also recognize the incredible work happening across GBMC this week in honor of several national observances:
- Anesthesia Tech Week (March 31–April 4): Our anesthesia technologists and technicians ensure safe, seamless surgical care. Thank you for your critical role in every procedure.
- National Donate Life Month (April): Organ, eye, and tissue donation offers life and hope. Learn more or register at infinitelegacy.org.
- Occupational Therapy Month (April): From NICU infants to elderly patients regaining independence, our OTs help our patients thrive.
- Patient Access Week (March 30–April 5): You are the first touchpoint for many of our patients, setting the tone with accuracy, compassion, and professionalism.
Each of these observances—and the global collaborations we’ve hosted—showcase who we are at our core: a health system committed to doing better for every patient, every time. I am grateful for your dedication.