Whether it’s trying to help a noncompliant patient manage their health, to encourage an employee to adopt a healthier lifestyle, or to begin our own wellness journey, change is difficult.
In a session at the Pinnacle 2024 EMS leadership forum, Charles Blankenship, MBA, division chief, Support Services, for Novant Health Mobile Integrated Health, outlined take-home tools you can use to successfully implement change in yourself, your patients and your organization.
Memorable quotes
Following are memorable quotes from Blankenship on achieving lasting change.
- “Are you the change you want to see, the change you want people to be?”
- “Everybody’s why is different.”
- “Keep your eye on the real goal – if it’s not in front of you, you’re never going to see it.”
- “Give permission for people to hold you accountable.”
- “What matters most is not how far you come, but the determination to keep moving forward.”
Top takeaways on achieving lasting change
Following are some of the tips Blankenship shared on how to achieve change.
Clarify the goal: Find the ‘why’
Blankenship shared two case studies, Patient A and Patient B.
Patient A was, as Blankenship described, “terrible” at getting to dialysis. He frequently missed appointments, which of course, led to complications and 911 calls and hospitalizations. Novant Health Mobile Integrated Health’s community paramedics spent time with the patient, understanding his challenges – waking up on time, being ready to go when the transport van arrived to pick him up. But they went one step further, to understand his underlying “why.” This patient loved video games so much, that he didn’t want to go to dialysis – he wanted to stay home to play.
Working together with the patient, the medics created an agreed-upon plan to improve his health, ensuring he had healthy food and was getting to dialysis, calling him before appointments to ensure he was awake. With this support and his “why,” the patient was able to improve his health to the point where he could be on in-home dialysis, able to stay home and play video games while getting the care he needed.
Patient B, was Blankenship himself. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and increasing hypertension, he found himself unable to get down on the floor to play with his new granddaughter. He committed to turning his health around, his “why” – being there for his family. Implementing a diet plan, twice-daily 45 minute workouts and self-help study, Blankenship was able to eliminate his need for diabetes medications in 90 days, get off his CPAP in 1 year and lose 100 pounds in under 2 years.
| More: Life lessons in change from a medic’s health journey. Through a steadfast commitment to daily steps and leaning on your support system, change is achievable
Set the example as a leader
Ghandi encouraged us to become the change we want to see. The same applies in business and leadership, Blankenship noted.
Leaders must model the behaviors they wish to see in their staff. Before his lifestyle change, Blankenship noted he frequently worked 80 hours a week. “My poor staff thought it wasn’t OK to take vacation because I didn’t,” he said.
He asked attendees, “are we modeling the behaviors we want to see in our staff? Are we getting 7 hours of sleep? Are we the change we want to see?”
It’s OK to fail
It’s OK to fail when attempting change, Blankenship stressed. The Harvard Business Review reports more than 70% of needed change either fails to be launched or completed.
The trick is to fall forward, into your next attempt, he said. “It’s OK to fall off the wagon, but you better hurry up and jump back on it before it leaves you … get up the next day and get after it.”
Celebrate the milestones
To keep up enthusiasm while trying to achieve change, it’s important to set measurable steps and to celebrate those mini wins along the journey.
Blankenship noted he didn’t start out on his health journey running. He ran from light post to light post, alternating with walking. But this week, he ran 3.5 miles on the beach.
You don’t just give a horse one carrot, to keep them moving, Blankenship said, you give them along the way. Similarly, you have to celebrate the milestones along the way to achieving meaningful change.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Change your life with positive thinking
- Be and support the agents of change
- 8 habit tips to bridge to your overall health goals
- New beginnings: Anytime resolutions
- 8 great EMS motivational tips
- How to attain your EMS career goals
