Direct Line from Max Buetow for 5/31/2024

May 31, 2024

Celebrating our nurses with an evening of recognition

We started summer with a beautiful evening Tuesday night, celebrating the amazing nurses across our system!

I had the pleasure of joining nursing staff from across CoxHealth as we highlighted their achievements with an evening at Finley Farms. We recognized DAISY Award winners and 10 Nurses of the Year for their remarkable contributions.

We celebrated their successes, and the way our nursing teams help set the tone for our culture and the quality of care we deliver.

This was our 15th year for this nursing recognition event, and it is a special pleasure to spend quality time with colleagues who are making a positive difference with our patients and teams. Their dedication to our patients – and CoxHealth – is inspiring, and I left feeling inspired and energized.

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible, and thank you again to our nurses who do so much for CoxHealth.

A special thank you to Drury President John Beuerlein

As he nears the end of his tenure as interim president at Drury University, I want to take a moment to pause and thank John Beuerlein.

Drury is near and dear to my heart, as I know it is to so many of our colleagues. Over the past year, I have appreciated John’s support for Drury and the way he provided his exceptional leadership during a crucial moment of transition.

To see him step in and serve in this capacity – and to do so at such a high level – is impressive.

If there is one phrase that you hear people associate with John Beuerlein, it is: class act. And that is a rare thing – how many individuals do you know who get described with that phrase?

He carries himself with high integrity, he does things the right way, for the right reasons. He acts selflessly, with pure motivations, and he consistently exudes professionalism.

I love the way that he is always genuine and straightforward. He approaches all things fairly and consistently. For someone so accomplished, there doesn’t seem to be an ounce of ego in him.

John is one of those people who leaves you feeling like you are a better person for having been in the room with him.

I can’t think of a better person to have served as a representative for Drury as they prepare to open the next chapter in their rich history. One of the reasons the university is celebrating a successful executive search is because of the confidence and momentum he has built over the last year.

Both as an individual and on behalf of CoxHealth, I want to say thank you to John for the way he has helped lift up Drury and for setting an example for each of us on how to be a true class act.

Summer is here – let’s make it a season of family

Family is an important part of my life and with summer now upon us, I am looking forward to a season of fun.

For my household, and for so many families, the school year is a frenetic pace. There simply aren’t as many opportunities to sit around the dinner table, connect with our spouses and kids, and truly be a part of each other’s lives.

Summer is a different story. In these rare months of more forgiving schedules, we are going to be very intentional about making time for one another. From a personal well-being standpoint, I need this time to connect – to be a dad and a husband.

This year, we aren’t doing anything extravagant – a family reunion in northern Minnesota and some outdoor activities – but we are planning to make the most of every minute together.

Summer is a season of family, and I am very excited to share this time with my family members who have recently moved to the area. With my dad, my brother, and my mom all now here in southwest Missouri, I can see a lot of barbecue nights and weekend projects together. We will enjoy the simple things, spending time on the Greenways trails and enjoying some of our favorite outdoor activities here in the Ozarks – floating the rivers and a lot of hiking.

I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunities summer offers. As we go into this season, I hope you’ll join me in taking time to pause, appreciate and enjoy the time we spend with our loved ones.

A special summertime shoutout to educators: And this time of year, I also want to salute all of our teachers and educators from higher education to pre-K. Health care is a calling and so is education. I want to express my appreciation for their efforts pouring into our community and our future workforce. My best wishes to all of you for a great summer!

Join us for the Kids Health and Safety Fair on Saturday

If you want to start your summer with some fun for the whole family, join us for the Kids health and Safety Fair, immediately following the Med Mile and 5K.

The Kids Health and Safety Fair will run from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 1, in the Ferrell-Duncan Clinic parking lot. With fun for every age, families can learn important safety education tips while enjoying the fun of food trucks, inflatable games, giveaways and more – all for free!

Visit this link to learn more, and we hope to see you there!

Voice of the patient

Adapted from patient feedback: “The knowledge, respect and courtesy of the hyperbaric team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals was second to none. Their kindness and compassion was priceless, especially to someone new to the hyperbaric therapy process and equipment. A score of five is not nearly enough. They deserve a solid 10!”

Thank you for all you do,

Max