The Cook Children's Experience
I joined Cook Children’s roughly 6 months ago as a pediatric hospitalist and the physician director for experience. Previously, I was at Stanford Children’s Health for almost 10 years. When my friends and family have asked me, “How is work? Are you liking your new job?” the answer has been simple: amazing. From my first day (and frankly before), I have been impressed with how dedicated everyone I meet is to the Promise we keep daily for our patients, families and each other. I never had one minute to look like I was lost before someone asked me, “Can I help you find something?”. My colleagues have been exceptional. I see people working tirelessly to do the right thing in spite of challenges that come their way. People have been welcoming and I am blown away by seeing everyone’s “why” for their motivation to be here.
It is this experience that has led us to what will hopefully be many Friday Facts contributions on the Cook Children’s Experience. In most health care systems, you may know our group as “Patient Experience.” However, here we are careful to call it the “Cook Children’s Experience” intentionally. Why is that? If we are focused on collaboration, then saying “patient” experience only focuses on one part. Collaboration means multiple parties working together toward a common goal. And that is exactly how our team views the care experience here.
Nationally, next week is a time designated as “Patient Experience Week.” Keeping our definition of this in mind, I hope all of you as my colleagues will take a minute to recognize yourselves, as well as each other, about the amazing care we provide each minute of every day. The work is not not always easy, it is often challenging, but the reward of safer and healthier children, families and coworkers is priceless.
I hope that in this special space of the weekly Friday Facts, we can share our collective best practices, successes and opportunities for improving the care experience of everyone in the health care system: patients, families and staff. I look forward to our continued collaboration and partnership together!
Amit Singh, M.D., on behalf of the entire Cook Children’s Experience Team!
