Holiday Message to Consulting Connection Readers

It is that time of year (again)! This year went by so fast that after Thanksgiving it didn’t feel like it was time to put on the Christmas music, decorate the tree and start baking cookies and wrapping presents. But it is the holiday season and I hope that you will enjoy yours as much as I am.

There are so many work-related tasks to complete at the end of the year that you may feel overwhelmed. You could be getting new physician leaders and planning orientation programs for them. You may also be making new committee appointments. It might be the time to collect medical staff dues. Or maybe you are in a state where all the licenses expire at the end of the year (!). You may be clearing up reports to payers to make sure that your organization gets paid for services provided to patients. And – you may be in the midst of planning a holiday event for your medical staff organization. I’m sure that all those tasks will get done (somehow) – and I hope that you are not totally frazzled!

When I think of this time of the year, it isn’t about the work (although there are things that I’m working on wrapping up as well). It is about the joy of family and friends and spending time with them. I’m fortunate to live close to two daughters here in California (my son and his family live in Hawaii) – and I have three grandchildren close by as well. Family gatherings help me to feel the joy of the holidays. On December 7, we enjoyed a local tradition in Laguna Beach of seeing Santa come into town on a firetruck and then we wandered around town where all the stores were open and serving cookies, cocoa, coffee and drinks. There were music groups, lots of singing and dancing – what fun! I hope that you have some of those special moments during your holiday festivities.

The memories of past Christmases is always on my mind at this time of year and especially those that used to celebrate with me but have passed on. My Dad has been gone for almost 15 years and at this time of year, he feels especially close since I will always remember the care with which he trimmed the tree, and enjoyed the special holiday treats that we traditionally had in our family. Because of him, I’ll serve some fruitcake (he loved it) and his memory will be very present with all of my family as we play games on Christmas Eve (he was a relentless game-player and I don’t think I ever beat him at Monopoly).

It is also a time to think the things that I’m thankful for – and in addition to my family, one of the things for which I’m most thankful is the great team of people that I work with at VerityStream! I have awesome colleagues and it is a joy to work with them every day. I’m very lucky to be part of such an amazing group!

I wish you all the joys of this holiday season and look forward to communicating with you in 2019. Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!