Who is #1?

Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.' But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
—Luke 22:25-26
Everyone wants to be #1 sometime. Whether in school with test results, or competing in sports and winning first prize, being number one is fun stuff. The western economy is built around the premise that everyone wants to be #1; cars, apparel, skin softener, mascara, even pet food is marketed to appeal to the owner’s ego!

The messages of the market place are that you are #1 or could be with a little…

The message of scripture is that you are created on purpose, with a future and a hope, and that your calling is to be much more than #1…you are called to serve and thereby invite others to see that being #1 is not where it is at.

Right now our nation is transfixed by the posturing and antics of grown men and women, each of whom have taken an oath of office to serve the people of these Unties States of America. Many suggest that the only thing they are serving is their self interest and desire to maintain their elected positions of power. The “main thing” has been set aside because of other competing interests and we watch, along with the rest of our “creditor countries” and wonder if there is any chance. Nonetheless, you and I are to respect the office and the call to serve, even though according to a Gallup poll the week of July 7, they have an 18 percent approval rating.

Come on America. We can do better than this!

Let’s bring it closer to home. You may not be elected to power, but in your very position of health care you have tremendous power. Power to care, to respond, to build trust, to comfort, to marshal all of science to support healing. How do we do with our “power”? Do you sometimes get sidetracked with other issues and get confused about who is really #1? It happens to busy folk trying to do their best. I’m not talking about whether it is you or your associate or physician partner…would that were the case.

I’m talking about your patients. The real issue is that your patients are always #1…never #2 or #3 after you.

Our HCAPHS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) score, which lets us know our patients' confidence or satisfaction with the care they received, can give us insight into who we, as health care providers, are treating as #1. At University Community Hospital, we have some units in the top quartile of performance yet there are others with a ways to go. Remember who is #1. With your commitment I know we will do better!