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By David R. Fox, CRA, FAHRA
I often say “leadership matters” and have again been proven correct recently, as the November 2014 midterm election results are in the books. Nationally, Republicans won control of the US Senate and increased their majority in the House of Representatives by 13 seats. So what do the election outcomes mean for hospitals and healthcare in the communities we serve? Now that the elections are over, where do we go from here? Or said another way, what does the dog do when he finally catches the car? As an industry leader, I simply do not know the answers, and suspect few of us do. The influence of leadership in our country’s political system impacts us, but the only certainty I can offer is that change is inevitable.
At the recent AHRA fall board meeting, we reflected on our current mission and discussed our strategic direction and how to better prepare for our future. We plan to spend significant time on strategic planning at the next board meeting this spring. The discussions were as healthy and deliberate as I have seen over the years, and it made me proud to preside over such a diverse group of elected leaders, discussing our association’s future. We are evaluating our individual roles with leadership strengths development, assessing advocacy on behalf of our members, and refining our educational offerings.
For some time now, the board has been working together to prepare for some radical changes in healthcare that we knew would have an impact on our organizations and association. We continue to explore new roles, robust alliances, and strategic affiliations as well as program enhancements and services to better meet the needs of our broadening membership. We’ve focused on leadership and management development, as well as operational excellence and performance improvements to strengthen our association. And with each board meeting, just as it was at this last meeting, there has been an unwavering commitment to nurture the mission and strategic initiatives which have been entrusted to us so that AHRA has a viable and sustainable future, despite the turmoil which characterizes the healthcare landscape today.
I am currently attending RSNA as a representative of AHRA, meeting industry influencers and cultivating more relationships with mutual future benefit for our association. I am also personally networking and prospecting equipment and software to enhance my organization’s productivity, quality, and safety improvements.
In the spirit of last week’s Thanksgiving holiday, I celebrate my professional life and credit AHRA with much of my development. I am grateful for others in the association who have willingly stepped up and volunteered to teach, mentor, and lead young leaders in our industry. AHRA has been the indispensable resource for professional education and leadership development for imaging leaders around the world. What are you thankful for, personally and professionally?
David R. Fox, CRA, FAHRA is president of the 2014-2015 AHRA Board of Directors. He is the president of Saint Vincent Health-North Hospital in Sherwood, AR and can be reached at Dfox@stvincenthealth.com.
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