8 JULY 2023IN MY OPINIONIN MY OPINIONIt happens to all of us. We get complacent. We get comfortable. We lose motivation. All of this leads to missed opportunities for improvement. If we do not take a moment to step back and re-evaluate our workflows and processes, we run the risk of failing to improve, failing to innovate, and failing to provide our patients with the best care possible. "Every year I try to grow as a player and not get stuck in a rut. I try to improve my game in every way possible. But that trait is not something I've worked on, it's part of me." - Lionel Messi"There are those who would misteach us that to stick in a rut is consistency - and a virtue, and that to climb out of the rut is inconsistency - and a vice." ­ Mark Twain"As an actor, I think you can get really bad habits, if you do the same thing, every day. You can get stuck in a rut. So, I like jumping between genres, and then taking a break and learning something new. I like feeling like I'm still learning." Brie LarsonClearly complacency is not exclusive to the medical community. However, one constant that permeates through those who excel, is they are continually looking for ways to hone and enhance their craft. Those of us who perform repetitive tasks, day after day, often fall victim to being lulled into the false sense of security. Everything seems to be working, so it is good enough. Is it really, and how do we get out of these ruts and enact positive change?First, and possible the most challenging is that we need to acknowledge things may not be as perfect as we think they are. Possibly we are not as infallible as we would like to think, and that is okay, but not making changes because of pride or our egos is not. Just because a process is working, do not assume that's as good as it gets. Examine processes that have not changed for years and speak to the staff who complete those tasks; ask their opinions and listen to their concerns. Do they feel things are working as efficiently as possible? Do they have ideas on how to make the process work better for them? We have all heard the cliché to "think outside of the box," but what does that really mean and how can we practically apply it to these situations? I understand it may not always be STRATEGIES FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTBy Mike VanDerwerken, Director of Pharmacy, Saratoga HospitalMike VanDerwerken
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