Charting a Course for Success

Thibodaux Regional continues to grow. New doctors are coming, existing services are being expanded, new services are being developed and state-of-the-art buildings and facilities are under construction to accommodate and anticipate the growth. We continue to acquire and deploy the very best equipment and technology available in health care today. We also continue to make serious investments in our people—our most valuable resource. We are adopting and adapting the most progressive management and leadership practices available inside and outside of health care.

Waves of Danger
However, we are under no illusion that “we have arrived.” Thibodaux Regional continues forth on a journey—a journey to excellence. We are sailing through treacherous seas where hidden rocks threaten the hull of our ship and where powerful winds of change are blowing giant waves over the deck, pushing us backward and obstructing our view of the horizon. Other ships are taking on water, and some are actually sinking, their masts broken, water pouring through the hull and their crews in a state of panic. Some seem to sail on with no apparent knowledge of the dangers that exist…until they strike a hidden reef and are immediately thrown into a crisis. Others remain in the harbor, hoping that the storms will pass them by. “Harbor huggers” are left behind by the fleet and never achieve the purpose for which they exist—to sail the seas, even though rough.

How does a sailing ship relate to what is happening in health care today? The sea or ocean is inherently dangerous. The ship (our hospital) is sailing through dangerous waters: reimbursement cuts, personnel shortages, increased competition and massive regulations, and many other threats to our future appear without warning. In fact, planning for the future is extremely risky because the rate of change is so fast (powerful winds that are pushing our ship at a high speed) and because we have never encountered many of the problems that face us today (sailing through uncharted waters). The combined effect of blinding speed and sailing through uncharted waters results in danger—even extreme danger.

Sailing into Safe Harbors
Confronting the brutal facts of our existence, but not losing faith in the end game has been called the “Stockdale Paradox.” Admiral Stockdale was the highest-ranking American serviceman to be imprisoned in the “Hanoi Hilton” or Viet Cong prison during the Vietnam War. He survived the tortures of imprisonment and came home to tell his story. To survive, Stockdale confronted the brutal facts and began improvising ways to improve his situation.

We at Thibodaux Regional must be like Stockdale: face the brutal facts and never lose faith that we will prevail in the end. When we do not meet a patient’s expectations, we must find out why, devise ways to improve and then sustain that improvement. This is true for each individual team member in our organization. When individuals embrace the Stockdale paradox by truly believing in their ability to confront brutal facts and overcome them, their own personal confidence, competence and overall performance improves. They experience personal growth and success, which begets more success.

For example, consider my friend and coworker, Darcy Prejeant. Several years ago I challenged her to consider a different career path, one that would require her to leave a comfortable position and acquire new skills and knowledge. In addition, I suggested that she go back to college to gain additional education commensurate with the new career path. All of these challenges would require a sacrifice of time and resources. At first, she resisted but then made the commitment.

Almost four years have passed since our original conversation. Since then, she has successfully completed an additional degree and has performed very well in her new position. We talked recently about how quickly time had passed. I told her that she has truly made a difference to our organization. I told her I appreciated all of her hard work and sacrifice.

I saw tears well up in her eyes as she thought back on those many weekends that she stayed home and studied, the late nights and early mornings and the deadlines. She had confronted the brutal facts. She had demonstrated faith in her ability to prevail in the end— and indeed, she was successful. Others have made similar sacrifices.

On a Journey to Excellence
It is impressive to me what one individual can
accomplish if he or she is committed. Think of what an entire organization could accomplish if everyone was committed in a like manner. Think how powerful emotions, such as the one described above, could fuel great performance. Consider how the patient—the reason we exist—would benefit in such an environment.

Organizations do not transform themselves—the individuals within them change, one at a time. When enough individuals have embraced change for the better, the organization reaches a “tipping point.” It picks up momentum to the point that leaders do not have to push it forward—it propels itself.

This is the challenge of leadership: create an environment where an organization is not pushed forward, but instead, creates its own energy and gains momentum to the point that it is “self-propelled.” We view this desired state as essential to truly achieving excellence. To reach the “tipping point” at Thibodaux Regional would be to create such momentum that we would overcome the brutality of our business. We would prevail in the end. And you, the patient, would be the real benefactor of the entire effort.

Greg Stock
Chief Executive Officer

Greg Stock
Chief Executive Officer