A Sea­son of Pur­pose: Reflect­ing on Our Col­lec­tive Progress

Progress and time are inextricably linked, though perhaps not in the way we often imagine. In our fast-paced world, we are conditioned to believe that the faster we achieve a goal, the more successful we are. We often find ourselves adding the disclaimer, "and we accomplished this in a very brief period," as if speed is the ultimate validator of hard work. But as we look at the incredible transformation occurring within our hospital today, a deeper truth emerges. True progress isn't just about the ticking of the clock; it is about the arrival of a season. It’s about the right people.

The "Overnight Success" 25 Years in the Making

Take our Emergency Department (ED) as an example. For nearly 25 years, the ED has been immersed in various improvement plans. We listened to patient, provider, and staff feedback; we tried individual fixes; we pushed and we pivoted.

Then, it clicked. In less than a year, we have seen statistics that are nothing short of miraculous:

• Consistency: Our "Left Without Being Seen" (LWBS) rate is now consistently under 2%.
• Flow: We have slashed boarded hours from over 10,000 to less than 3,000.
• Experience: Our patient experience scores are on a steady, upward climb.

While this progress feels "fast," it is actually the fruit of a long-tended garden that “suddenly” had all the right elements in place. As Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us, there is a time for everything and a purpose for every season: a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to weep and a time to laugh. For our ED, after years of planting and persistence, this is our season to harvest.

Growth Across the Board

This sense of a "right season" is blooming throughout our entire organization. A few years ago, the development of a new Medical Office Building was just a line item on our strategic plan. Today, thanks to the dedication of so many, we will bear the fruits of that labor in just a few short months.

We see this same momentum in our Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Watching our "Rate the Hospital" top box scores climb from a low of 42.11 in March to an all-time high of 64.06 in December—surpassing our goal by four points—is more than just a statistic. It is a sign that all the pieces are finally falling into place.

We are also overjoyed to celebrate our third year alongside the Onslow Hispanic Latino Association (OHLA)—a partnership defined by a shared purpose for our community. While the vision for a Spanish-language resource has been in our hearts since day one, we realized that this is our season to bring it to life. By combining the right people with the right timing, we have officially launched our Spanish virtual tour of Onslow Memorial Hospital.

We see this same momentum in our Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Watching our "Rate the Hospital" top box scores climb from a low of 42.11 in March to an all-time high of 64.06 in December—surpassing our goal by four points—is more than just a statistic. It is a sign that all the pieces are finally falling into place.

We are also overjoyed to celebrate our third year alongside the Onslow Hispanic Latino Association (OHLA)—a partnership defined by a shared purpose for our community. While the vision for a Spanish-language resource has been in our hearts since day one, we realized that this is our season to bring it to life. By combining the right people with the right timing, we have officially launched our Spanish virtual tour of Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Why Now?

What made this season different? It is the perfect convergence of the right process and the right people. We are blessed with phenomenal, dedicated teammates, providers, leaders, board members, UNC partners, and community leadership.

When all these elements align, progress doesn't just happen; it flourishes. If all life events—birth, healing, planting, and laughing—are part of a purposeful rhythm, then we can trust that our timing is right because our hearts and our efforts are finally in sync.

Thank you for being part of this season. Together, we are proving that when the timing is right and the people are dedicated, there is no limit to the healing we can provide.