The Impact of September 11, 2001

Here's a rare Sunday blog to commemorate September 11.
So, I am at the gym the other day doing my cardio workout and I am watching TV. There is a story on CNN about a former Boston College Lacrosse player who was working as an equities trader at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, when one of the hijacked planes hit. His name was Welles Crowther. Welles was remembered for his heroism and bravery through the red bandanna that he always kept with him since he was a young child. On this particular day, he wore it around his nose and mouth as he rescued person after person. After the plane hit the South Tower, he called his mother to say that he was alright. He then proceeded to take control and he directed people to the stairway helping them the safety. He stayed in the South Tower getting people out until the building collapsed. That story evoked a great deal of emotion in me as I related it to one of my children. All that I could think about was being a parent of such a child with absolute devastation for the loss, but absolute pride for their heroism and bravery. First off, both daughters are fine, thank God. However, right after September 11, 2001, my daughter, Lauren, said that she wanted to do more for her country. At the time, she was a 14 year old who wanted to give back to her country after seeing the coming together of a nation post 9/11. Lauren held onto that desire for the next several years. She went on to apply to the Naval Academy to fulfill that dream of doing something more for her country. She was accepted and graduated after four years in May, 2009. She did a seven month tour to the Middle East almost immediately after graduation and is now preparing for her second tour. I had the opportunity to join her on her ship for the final eight days of her first tour from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. I was permitted to stand watch with her on the Bridge for each of her four to five hour shifts, mornings, evenings and nights. What amazed me was at any given time there was a handful of Navy personnel on the Bridge, a few officers and the rest were sailors of various rank, but all in their twenties. These young men and women have been entrusted with a half of a billion dollar ship and a crew of almost a thousand. On one of those nights standing watch, I asked what was the most harrowing experience during her tour. Most she couldn't discuss, but she said for her personally, was being on the Bridge and being harassed by Iranian gunboats in the Persian Gulf. As one of the officers in charge, you have to determine if they are intending to do harm versus simply harassing you. It is amazing what the young people in the military do for us day in day out that most people don't know or even care to know about. They are in the same category as a Welles Crowther, brave men and women who joined the military knowing that they could be in harm's way at any given time. Yet, they do it for love of country and their fellow Americans. Wow! My heart goes out to Welles Crowther's parents and to all who lost someone on that horrific day in September as well as on days serving our country and each other. We will never forget their sacrifice and the love of country.

Happy Anniversary, Pamela

If you haven't figured it out yet, I am on vacation this week.  I have been blogging more about the personal aspects of my life than work and it's been a nice change.  One of the reasons that I am on vacation is to celebrate my 35th wedding anniversary tomorrow.  I have been truly blessed to have fallen in love with such a wonderful women.  I have said it hundreds of times over the 35 years that she is a gift from God.  Pamela is not only my wife, but she is also my best friend.  You might say does he have anymore clichés to throw in here?  OK, she completes me; she is my world; she is the love of my life.  Pamela is all of the above. 

Has it always been perfect, hell no.  When we were first married we were making minimum wage ($2.80 per hour).  Pamela's father had to co-sign for everything.  We were poor, living in a three-room apartment with a bed being the only piece of furniture for quite some time.  We lived pay check to pay check for years.  We struggled, we argued, but we persevered.    We made it work.  Unlike today, where couples divorce after the slightest challenge to their marriage.  A few weeks ago, we were out with six couples and the years of marriage ranged from a low of 30 to a high of 39.  Pretty cool, but unfortunately a dying breed. 

Anyway, my marriage continues to be a great ride, a wonderful wife and two fabulous daughters.  Pamela, thank you for 35 years that I wouldn't trade for anything.

America's Best Hospitals

Congratulations to one of my best friends, Lou Shapiro, CEO at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. His hospital was named once again as the No. 1 hospital for Orthopedics in the US (actually the world).   I realize that there is a lot of controversy over how US News and World Report selects its top hospitals, but I have spent enough time in this field and around some of these top hospitals and their leaders to know that they deserve such a ranking.  On the flip side, however, I did find it interesting that one of the criterion in which these hospitals are judged by the magazine is their competence in high stakes situations.  The example used was heart valve replacement in a man in his 90's.  Most hospitals would decline such surgery due to its risks, but not the Top Hospitals.  Maybe, more of the top hospitals should be declining such surgeries going forward.  Possibly, I will feel differently when I am in my nineties.  I guess it's all about the quality of life that one can experience in their nineties.  Anyway, again, congratulations to Lou Shapiro and also to Ron Peterson, CEO at Johns Hopkins, as the nation's top hospital.

A Tribute to a Very Special Person

Last evening to commemorate the anniversary of my father-in-law's death, my wife and I toasted his memory with a Rusty Nail (equal parts of Scotch and Drambuie served over ice).  On special occasions, he would end the evening with a Rusty Nail, his drink of choice, so what better way to remember him.

My father-in-law, Donald Walter Totzke, (DW to me) died 15 years ago while vacationing on Cape Cod.  Both he and my mother- in-law would vacation at the Cape the week of Labor Day.  It just so happened that Hurricane Fran was in the Atlantic coming up the East Coast. Although it was a beautiful day on Cape Cod, the ocean was experiencing rip currents.  They were walking in knee deep water, the maximum water depth since my father-in- law had a fear of the water from when he was a young boy.  He witnessed a drowning of another boy as a child and was fearful of the water ever since.  The rip current swept both of my wife's parents out to sea.  A wave brought my mother in law back to safer waters.  There were two vacationing life guards on the beach who then swam out to save him, but it was too late.  He was brought to shore, CPR was initiated and continued as he was airlifted to the hospital.  He was pronounced dead on a beautiful afternoon at a Cape Cod hospital.

DW was everything that is right about America.  He was hard working, strong in his faith, a leader, charming, honest, intelligent, had Kennedy family good looks (although more Conservative in his political leanings), a WWII veteran and was always in great physical condition even at 70 when he died.  He loved his family and the holidays, especially Christmas; he appreciated good Scotch, fine wine, good food, sports, politics, art, woodworking, John Wayne movies, any Western and the list goes on.  He was someone to admire and respect.  He was truly a very special man who I tried to model both my personal and professional lives after.

 Here's to you DW, forever missed, but never forgotten.

Labor Day

Yesterday, I celebrated Labor Day as I normally would--relaxing, some shopping with my wife and friends (some decent sales on golf clothes), afternoon beach time, a dinner of a low country boil and college football (Go Terps!).  Labor Day is the only holiday that I really don't think of as a holiday of any recognition.  It is simply a day off. 

I don't come from a union background.  My father was in a union sort of; as a police detective, he was a member of the Police Benevolent Association.  In fact, my earliest experience with a union was when I was early in my career in health care and it wasn't a good one.  The Operating Engineers at the hospital where I worked went on strike and I was the Assistant Director of Materials Management.  Most truck drivers were teamsters and wouldn't cross the picket line.  I had to assemble a team of managers and supervisors to pick up supplies, equipment, blood, drugs, food and bring them across the picket line.  I crossed the picket line numerous times to personal threats, attacks, punctured tires and holes in the radiators of trucks, vans and cars.  I was followed and tracked by union workers from other locals, I was in vehicle chases carrying medical supplies and equipment and I was run off the road.  The strike was over after about two weeks, but it was the longest two weeks of my life.  The strike catapulted my career since the Director of Materials Management was older and had a family.  He wouldn't cross the picket line out of concern for his personal safety and his family's wellbeing.  I was 25 years old, married, but no kids.  He was my mentor and I told him that I would handle it.  However, the CEO was not happy with the Director's lack of commitment and his 9-to-5 work day during the strike when the rest of us were working around the clock.  The Director was told to begin looking for a new job as he had no future at that hospital going forward.  He had a new job that year and I was promoted.  

Anyway, back to Labor Day.  Recognition of workers after the deadly Pullman Strike was with great merit; however, Teamsters boss, James Hoffa, threatening to" take people out"  referring to the GOP and Tea Party members this past Labor Day brings me back to those not-so-memorable days.

The Things Nobody Told Me

Recently, I provided a response to a question (5 Things Nobody Told Me Before I Became CEO) for a national publication.  My answer follows.

What still amazes me is the amount of knowledge a CEO needs to have based on the complexity and ever-changing aspects of the healthcare industry. In addition to the day-to-day requirements of running a health system, a CEO needs to be aware of so many other aspects of the industry. From federal requirements to state regulations; from financial planning to strategic planning; from clinical integration to health information technology; previously the CEO could get away as a generalist, but not anymore.

We recently completed the building of a new hospital. I assigned the administrative oversight responsibilities to a vice president. He did an exceptional job, but for the 35-month construction period, even with a dedicated administrative officer, approximately 60 percent of my work day was consumed by some aspect of the building project. I had to become an expert in yet another aspect of this business. It’s still a job that I love doing in an industry that I have been a part of for more than 36 years.

Flat Tax

Earlier this week, I wrote about the CEO initiative to stop funding political campaigns until the gridlock in Congress stops.  We need another initiative in this country and that is to entirely revamp the tax code.  I read that the IRS adds over 1000 new regulations per month.  You would think that with the employment of CPAs for life through such regulatory morass, that they would embrace the comprehensiveness of such regulation, but they don't.  The CPAs are tired of just as we are.  Talk about a government that is out of control.   We need to have everyone paying their fair share, including corporations like GE that make billions and pay no taxes and the 47 million Americans who don't any pay taxes.  Too few in the middle and upper middle classes carry the burden for everyone and it needs to change.