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Welcome back to our monthly CEO corner. I appreciate all the positive comments received last month, but I would also welcome constructive feedback. I am a firm believer that any entity – be it a practice, business, family or individual – can improve. To the contrary if not improving there will be decline, maybe eventual but definitely inevitable.

In the Patton household Mary is almost fully recovered from her hip replacement. It really is amazing how much joint replacement has advanced in the last 20 years and we are very happy about that in our house! We are planning our first family vacation where all 4 of us will be available in over a year. The first week of March we plan to hit the beach and do as much nothing as possible.

Jack Welch has been esteemed as one of the top business leaders in the last 100 years. As the CEO of General Electric he reinvented the company, making it one of the most respected in the world. He said, “You can’t believe how hard it is for people to be simple, how much they fear being simple. They worry that if they’re simple, people will think they’re simpleminded. In reality, of course, it’s just the reverse.” It’s very easy to fall into the trap of more is better….I certainly have myself. But just as Jack Welch I’ve come to the realization that laser focus on a few critical issues and not the insignificant many is the key to success. Applying this concept to our daily tasks is one of the most important things we can do for our patients and their families. Cancer is incredibly complicated. It’s up to us to cull the massive amount of information available and make it simple. Educate patients and their families at their level and tailor information to their specific needs. By doing so you empower them to be active participates in their care.

Keep your mind clear and uncluttered to keep your energy level high and your focus on what matters most. Our patients deserve our very best and often the “simple” things matter the most.