Gratitude and Honoring the Discipline of Quality
October 28, 2024Share:
I begin and end each day with an expression of gratitude for something in my life – a person, an encounter, an opportunity, an interaction or something I am grateful for in some way. This month, my message is about gratitude to all those who serve or care for people as part of their daily lives, and to the discipline of Quality that provides a foundation that allows them to do this important work effectively.
Hurricane Milton hit landfall in the southern part of Manatee County, Florida, not too far from where I live, leaving in its path heartbreaking devastation for so many people. A few days before the hurricane, I was at a local hospital and had the opportunity to ask a clinician about the possibility of evacuating the hospital as had been reported on the news for other healthcare facilities.
Their response was, "We are here to care for the community, and we are not evacuating." They succinctly summarized the system preparation for Helene, the prior hurricane, and for the upcoming storm, Milton.
This preparedness struck me. Here was a clinician who was able to clearly describe a detailed, well-designed plan to care for others before, during and after a potentially catastrophic event. It made me realize how grateful I am for the people who wake up every day, leaving their families to care for others.
The discipline of Quality, and the work we do at NAHQ, was evident in the conversation. Quality transcends healthcare, with each person playing a vital role by contributing to a system of care much larger than they may personally understand. In the instance of a devastating hurricane, Quality extends beyond the walls of a hospital into much broader emergency response systems, creating and implementing large scale plans to prepare and recover from disruptive acts of nature that include healthcare and non-healthcare professionals: Electrical contractors coming from all over the country to restore power, national guard and military personnel, government officials, disaster relief organizations, communities helping other communities, neighbors helping neighbors and strangers helping strangers, all contributing to a system of care with a foundation built on the discipline of Quality.
While it was Hurricane Milton that first brought these thoughts of gratitude for caregivers to mind, another event this month underscored the importance that the discipline of Quality plays in supporting them. NAHQ’s Healthcare Quality Week, which took place Oct. 20-26.
Healthcare Quality Week (HQW) is an annual, dedicated and highly anticipated week celebrating the impact of professionals who work in Quality & Safety. These individuals play a vital role in improving patient outcomes, enhancing organizational efficiency, and fostering a culture of excellence within healthcare. As the industry increasingly prioritizes Quality & Safety, the demand for dedicated professionals in this field continues to grow.
That’s why this year, NAHQ organized HQW around the theme of “Power of Q, Power of You,” offering complimentary webinars each day designed to help healthcare professionals navigate their way to success in careers within Quality & Safety. This year, these daily sessions had a record 20,000+ registrations. As a NAHQ board member, I am honored to be part of an organization that can provide resources like these that so many in healthcare Quality & Safety find so valuable.
Hurricane season will soon end but those of us in Quality & Safety are still amid the important and valuable work we continue to do. As we conduct it, I once again say sincerely, “thank you for your service”.
Patricia (Patty) Resnik, MJ, MBA, RRT, FACHE, CPHQ, CHC, CHPC
NAHQ President
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