MESSAGE FROM QUINT
HARDWIRE EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS.

In 2006, the Studer Covenant Alliance was born. It grew out of Studer Group's mission to make health care a better place for employees to work, physicians to practice, and patients to receive care. Our goal is to share the tools that are working so well in hospitals and physician practices with the many leaders in end of life organizations—hospices, nursing and assisted living facilities, and home health agencies—who are also passionate about delivering consistent, quality patient care. (You can learn more about Alliance coach Chris Comeaux in Why Culture Matters: Realizing Your Mission.)

When you read about the success of Covenant Hospice ("How to Grow a Quality End of Life Organization"), you will understand why Studer Group selected Covenant as our partner in this endeavor. In fact, they were just recognized in June 2007 for their innovation and results with the American Hospital Association’s prestigious Circle of Life Award.

While this issue of Hardwired Results focuses on the early successes of hospice organizations using Studer Group tools, many types of other end of life organizations are also using them with excellent results. As you read, I urge you to find ways to relate rather than to compare. I find that sometimes in health care we can suffer from “terminal uniqueness.” In other words, we have many reasons why our organization is different from the ones getting good results. Instead, think more broadly about how these tools could help you create a culture of excellence in your organization.

Do you have any low performing employees? Read about the experience of Hospice Care of South Carolina. They realized a $3.4 million return on investment in just six months by moving low performers out of the organization. Do you struggle with delivering consistent high quality care to every patient and family every time? Try some of the tools Sharp Hospice has used for dramatic gains in patient satisfaction.

And last, I hope you will heed the call for courageous leadership that all three of our panelists urge in article Hospice Leaders Weigh In on the Future of the Industry. As board members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and members of the National Hospice Work Group, they have some intriguing insights from their 30,000 foot vantage point of the industry to share with you.

Yours in service,