Feeling Proud to be Associated with GBMC

Last Friday, GBMC held its Inaugural Annual Grand Rounds, dedicated to the memory of James H. Dorsey, MD. It was a privilege to host Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, MD, Chief of Gynecologic Services and Founder’s Chair in Gynecologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), who discussed the latest updates in endometrial cancer.  

Dr. Abu-Rustum completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology right here at GBMC in the early 1990s, under the mentorship of Dr. Dorsey and Dr. Francis “Bing” Grumbine. I have always been proud to be part of the GBMC family, but reflecting on his successes amplified that pride. Dr. Abu-Rustum is now flourishing at one of the most renown cancer programs in the country, and he received his foundational training with us. It reminded me that while GBMC is in essence a community hospital, we often have the characteristics of an academic medical center with a community hospital feel. It is the best of both worlds, where we can offer excellent medical education and treatment in addition to the type of patient care experience we would want for our own loved ones. 

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes 

The day after the lecture, GBMC continued its tradition of community engagement through the 9th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event, which brought together more than 500 participants. This annual walk raised over $185,000 for our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) & Domestic Violence (DV) Program. It was humbling to see such a fantastic turnout, with so many people believing in this cause and understanding that it is a critical need for the community. 

We were honored to have Maryland’s First Lady, Dawn Moore, join us at Walk a Mile as our honorary chair. Additionally, the support from notable figures like Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Ravens Coach John Harbaugh highlighted the widespread community backing for our initiatives. I especially want to thank Alexis “Lucky” Thompson, event co-chair and member of our board of directors, for her advocacy; Fred Chan, MD, co-chair and Chief Medical Information Officer, for his leadership; as well as Morgan Varley, Director of Annual Funding, and Alissa Smith, Community Outreach and Events Manager, for their exceptional coordination of the event. 

Click here to view pictures from Walk a Mile. 

Administrative Professionals Day 

April 24 was Administrative Professionals’ Day! To our amazing administrative professionals: thank you for your hard work and dedication. We are grateful for everything you do. 

National Volunteer Week 

This week marked National Volunteer Week, and GBMC is extremely fortunate to have amazingly dedicated volunteers! Over 300 active volunteers provide more than 90,000 service hours to GBMC annually. Please join me in thanking our volunteers, and feel free to comment on this post to recognize one that stands out to you! 

Happy Passover 

On behalf of the entire GBMC HealthCare family, I want to extend best wishes for a Happy Passover to everyone celebrating the Jewish holiday this week.

We All Function a Little Differently – And That’s a Strength!

April is Neurodiversity Awareness Month, which raises awareness and understanding about cognitive differences. Often, organizations will use the time as an opportunity to educate about conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, bipolar disorder and others that impact how the mind works and how one interacts with the world. 

We should always remember that every brain is different, and everyone has strengths and weaknesses. As they mature, humans use their strengths to get around their weaknesses. On Wednesday, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team hosted an enlightening learning session on Neurodiverse Employees Awareness. The session gave a helpful overview of what neurodiversity refers to (it encompasses all people, acknowledging we are all different in the way our brains function and process information) and explained what other terms such as “neurodivergent” and “neurotypical” mean.  

Perhaps the most impactful part of the session was hearing first-hand experiences from our own workforce family members with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, who shed light on their unique approaches to work and success. The session resulted in great dialogue between the audience and panelists that continued even after it formally ended. It was eye-opening for most and appreciated! 

As an employer, GBMC recognizes that people work differently and thrive in various environments. We should all strive to be supportive and accommodating whenever possible, recognizing that what works for one person may not work for another. This could range from being mindful of light or sound sensitivities to being considerate of social anxieties and more. 

By embracing neurodiversity and making appropriate adjustments, we create a workplace where all can excel. At GBMC HealthCare, we want everyone to have a seat at the table and the opportunity to contribute in ways that align with their strengths. Together, we can build a workplace that honors the unique abilities and contributions of each individual. 

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is April 14-20! It is an annual celebration of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in healthcare and patient advocacy! Be sure to thank a medical laboratory professional today for all that they do here at GBMC! 

Health Information Professionals Week 

April 14-20 is Health Information (HI) Professionals Week. Please join GBMC HealthCare in recognizing our HI Professionals for their continued accomplishments of service. Our HI professionals are responsible for maintaining complete, secure, and confidential health records, in addition to coding health information, which ensures accurate data reporting and reimbursement. Thank you to our HI Professionals for all that you do! 

National Healthcare Decisions Day 

April 16 was National Healthcare Decisions Day. This day is dedicated to empowering individuals to express their wishes regarding healthcare and end-of-life care through advance care planning. I wanted to take a moment to reiterate the importance of advance care planning and recommitting ourselves to ensuring that every patient's wishes are known, respected, and followed.  

This is also a reminder to take a moment to reflect on your personal wishes as well. One way to get an advance directive form is to ask your primary care provider. I hope all will use this observance as an opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussions about their own advance care planning with family and loved ones.  

 

Sharing the Gift of Life

Throughout April, we celebrate National Donate Life Month (NDLM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Established in 2003, this observance serves as a reminder of the countless lives saved and transformed through donation. 

Organ donation is often the only answer for those grappling with end-stage organ failure, offering them a second chance at life. However, despite its proven efficacy, access to transplantation remains a challenge due to the shortage of available organs. With nearly 100,000 individuals on the national transplant waiting list, the need for donors is urgent. Tragically, 17 people die each day awaiting transplantation, underscoring the seriousness of addressing this issue. 

Reflecting on my time as national co-chair of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative in the early 2000s, I gained insights into the complexities surrounding organ procurement and transplantation. While GBMC may not be a transplant center, it is imperative that we amplify the message of organ donation and encourage participation in donor registries. 

One person’s heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines can be donated, giving each donor the opportunity to save multiple lives. Active cancer is the only automatic rule out for organ donation – there is no age limit. Moreover, organ donation transcends cultural and religious boundaries, with all major Western religions endorsing it as an act of altruism. 

As we commemorate NDLM, let us honor those who have given the gift of life and offer hope to those awaiting transplantation. To register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor in Maryland, click here to join the Maryland Donor Registry. Your decision could be the lifeline someone has been waiting for. 

Attention Physicians: Baltimore magazine’s Top Doctors Voting Has Opened! 

Baltimore magazine’s Top Docs honor isn't just about individual accolades; it's about showcasing the collective excellence and expertise that define our healthcare system. Nominating a colleague not only shines a spotlight on the outstanding work of your peers but also underscores GBMC's commitment to providing the care we would want for our loved ones. 

Nominate a colleague you respect and admire by June 3. 

Occupational Health Nurses Week 

April 7-13 is Occupational Health Nurses Week. Join in celebrating our occupational health nursing professionals who create a culture of health and safety in the workplace daily. Make sure to thank our employee health team today! 

National Cancer Registrars Week 

National Cancer Registrars Week is April 8-12! Thank you to our cancer registry professionals for collecting the important data that helps cancer researchers, healthcare providers and public health officers better monitor and advance cancer treatments. 

Reviewing the Leadership System

Last week in the blog, I mentioned that I had the opportunity to highlight the strength of our leaders and use of the leadership system at the Congress of the American College of Healthcare Executives. When I said I’m extremely proud of our leaders, I truly meant it. Our leaders drove such significant financial improvement throughout the health system last fiscal year, and I want to make sure we sustain this work and don’t lose sight of our quadruple aim of better health, better care, least waste, and more joy. 

Embracing the leadership system to inform and empower staff of all levels throughout the organization is the best way for us to achieve our quadruple aim and move faster towards our vision of being the true community-based system of care that treats everyone the way we want our own loved ones treated.   

As a refresher, the leadership system is all about using our vision to set goals and build action plans to achieve and sustain results. As part of the process, leaders continuously role model, enroll, improve, reward and mentor the team. You can see the components of the leadership system in the diagram.

Having this formalized leadership system creates a script of what is expected of leaders. When followed, we make great progress. 

Brian Riemer, Director of Supply Chain, is a great role model in using the leadership system. The efforts of Brian and his whole team have significantly contributed to achieving and sustaining great results under our Least Waste aim. 

Brian and leaders on his team have a strong understanding of our vision, systemwide goals, strategic plan, and how their work ties into each piece. They use their understanding of the big picture to set departmental goals that align with the strategic plan and cascade the goals and information to their teams. This fiscal year, they’ve zeroed in on the Workday implementation, Promise Project, and work around the Lean Management System. 

To keep his team enrolled and engaged in progress and tasks required to achieve the goals, Brian holds regular communication meetings with all his staff to cascade information. During the meetings, he reviews the vision dashboard, reminds the team how their work aligns with the strategic plan, and reviews targets to improve. He and his leaders regularly communicate results, explain where they stand on each goal, and clarify next steps with staff. 

Not only are logistical, business-related details continuously discussed, but staff is regularly celebrated. Recognition is baked into the culture of the team. 

It seems fitting to share that thanks to the work of Brian and his team, healthcare supply chain leader Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) recently recognized GBMC as one of its inaugural Supply Chains of Distinction Award recipients. GHX has also recognized GBMC multiple times as a “Best 50” healthcare provider for improving operational performance and driving down costs through supply chain automation. These accomplishments have not happened by accident – they have been made possible through dedicated, aligned work cascaded by strong leaders to a fully enrolled and engaged team. 

Patient Access Week 

Please join me in recognizing our healthcare access professionals in honor of Patient Access Week. GBMC’s Patient Access Representatives are the first points of contact for our emergency department, obstetric, and surgical patients. These team members are responsible for the collection of patient demographic information to ensure accurate patient identification as well as insurance information needed for billing. We could not achieve our vision without the work of our patient access team! 

National Public Health Week 

This week, we join the American Public Health Association to celebrate National Public Health Week to encourage everyone to work together to make it easier for communities to access the public health resources they need to make their communities healthier, safer, and stronger. The sentiment of the week directly aligns with our commitment to improving population health and access to advanced primary care in the community.