Thank you for being round pegs in a square world…

As this is a somewhat shortened week (in complete recognition that safety never takes a holiday), I just wanted to briefly touch base to thank you all for hanging out (and hanging through) the various twists and turns of the last decade or so. Sometimes being the safety “cop” can be a frustrating endeavor, but this week I’d like to (and I’d like you to do so as well) focus on the folks I encounter who “get it right” all day, every day. That’s not to say that I’ve run into any perfect organizations (and I will count myself among the imperfectionists), but there are those (and I count you all among that number) who understand that the process of improving the safety of an organization is not so much about yesterday as it is about tomorrow (and the next day) and the commitment to those tomorrows is what sets us apart from (and sometimes in opposition to) other folks. It takes a unique set of skills to embrace all that is safety in healthcare (and elsewhere) and I am proud to be able to provide some level of service to your cause.

At any rate, please accept my sincerest wishes to you and your families for a most joyous Thanksgiving—and an enormously safe Friday after for those of you about to shop—I salute you!

More safety goodness next week!

About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Greeley Company in Danvers, Mass. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is also a contributing editor for Healthcare Safety Leader. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.