By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA
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Visionary leaders are hot commodity. How can you go wrong with a leader who can see into the future and position an organization to stay one step ahead of the competition?
In 1995, Jeff Bezos saw the potential of the internet marketplace and visualized a virtual bookstore that would be open 24/7 and could deliver reading material either in print or online with the click of a mouse. Naming the company after the famous South American river, Amazon books was established and rolled out from the founder’s garage in Seattle. The Bezos vision expanded via the kindle reader eventually developing into the shopping market that we know today as amazon.com.
The creator of Amazon was not lucky nor was he unique. There are other leaders in business and industry, including healthcare, who share the traits of a forward-thinking individual. In working to build a better future for the clients they serve and for themselves, the more successful leaders are able to strike a balance between creative thought and observable action. They listen keenly to clients and co-workers and use emotional intelligence to learn what people really want. They establish a desired end point, formulate a plan, and work relentlessly until the goal is achieved. They favor innovation, accept responsibility, and regard a setback as a learning experience. “…glad we don’t have to do that again.” In some cases, new technology must be created to address a need but at other times the leader with an eye to the future finds new applications for existing technology. Bezos did not invent the internet or the bookstore; however, he did foresee that readers would flock to the convenience of online access to any book in print with immediate delivery to a mobile device.
CRNA inventor
Diane Miller is a pediatric CRNA and inventor whose life was changed by her inner drive to develop a playful way to initiate general anesthesia for pediatric patients. Motivated by an experience inducing anesthesia on Zeke, a 4-year old “frequent flyer” with PTSD from previous anesthetic inductions, Diane felt compelled to develop a lighthearted induction technique. Rejecting the decades-old tradition of “cyclo-brutane” used on fighting children, Diane developed the Pedia device for induction of anesthesia. Widely accepted by young children, it resembles a balloon with a whistle and makes induction of anesthesia entertaining for the pediatric population. Pedia has been awarded a patent and has been cleared by the FDA. The Pedia device is a game changer for pediatric induction of anesthesia and I predict it will quickly become the standard for our industry.
Diane’s story and device are featured on the pedia web site
Point of care ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging can identify the gender of an unborn child, determine the size and shape of a tumor or locate nerves prior to placing regional anesthesia. However, the device comes in size extra-large and it frequently isn’t available where the patient is located. These handicaps opened the door for Dr. Jonathan Rothberg to introduce an ultrasound system that did not require transport of a cumbersome machine to the patient’s bedside. Rothberg selected a team with whom he shared his vision and together they worked tirelessly to create the butterfly point of care ultrasound device. The device uses a standard sized ultrasound probe with quartz crystals and, uniquely, connects to a smart phone, pad or other mobile device to display the image. The probe can be carried in a holder on the individual’s belt and literally anyone with a modern phone can keep a personal ultrasound system at their fingertips round the clock.
You don’t have to be an inventor to foresee uses for existing technology as evidenced by anesthesia leaders who have quickly adopted the butterfly system to enable immediate ultrasound images of their patients. In addition to the obvious use of facilitating nerve blocks, the system is being used to assess gastric volume, vascular access, ventricular movement, pulmonary fluids, bladder retention or other conditions where an image could alter the anesthetic plan. Those boarding the butterfly bandwagon appreciate the flexibility that comes with having immediate access to ultrasound images and forecast improved patient outcomes due to information gained by this creative device.
More information can be found on the butterfly web site.
Some think of visionaries as having a crystal ball while others picture the mad scientist busy inventing things in the workshop. Although there may be a touch of truth to each stereotype, the truth is that most visionaries are ordinary people visualizing extraordinary things in order to solve both ordinary and extraordinary problems. Their mantra is, “We can do better!” and their work ethic is indefatigable. Sometimes, a new product will emerge, and other times new uses will be found for existing technology. Jeff Bezos developed an online marketing system that has changed the world economy; Diane Miller developed a playful way to induce pediatric anesthesia, and Dr. Jonathan Rothberg put real time ultrasound imaging into the hands of every healthcare worker. Now it’s your turn. Use your visionary skills to discover resourceful ways for making the new technology a standard of care in the workplace. Identify a need, imagine the best possible outcome, develop steps to get there, communicate your plan and work relentlessly until your goal has been achieved. When the new standard has been set, you will join the ranks of visionary leaders.
Tom is a noted author, speaker, leadership developer and dedicated clinical anesthetist. Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.