CMO Message: November 2026
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
- Lao Tzu
Much of leadership is being aware of where we want to go while watching us deliberately… and at times painfully slowly… work our way there. An article I read stated that gardeners don’t pull flowers to make them grow; that no amount of urgency can hurry a seed into a bloom. Gardeners provide the right environment for growth and trust that their work that goes unseen beneath the soil will eventually bear fruit. At this time of year there aren’t many sprouts… but our work remains to clean up the leaves, protect plants from the upcoming cold, and plant bulbs that won’t show up until spring.
Thank you for helping us continue the hard work this season. While length of stay remains stubbornly high, I know that by investing in our processes behind the scenes we will eventually see improvement. This month I want to highlight teamwork, quality, and length of stay.
1) Teamwork and Communication – It is more important than ever that we work together as a team. There are tons of books on highly effective teams (ask me for some of my favorites!). The best teams have a shared goal or vision, are aligned in efforts to achieve their goals, and have effective communication.
2) Patient Centered and Quality Focused – Our work avoiding unnecessary delays and preventing patient harm is paramount to the care we deliver. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) outlines six pillars of quality in healthcare:
a. Safe – preventing patient harm
b. Effective – delivering evidence-based care to those who will benefit
c. Patient-Centered – honoring individual patient preferences and values
d. Timely – minimizing harmful delays for patients and providers
e. Efficient – preventing waste in supplies, equipment, and resources
f. Equitable – ensuring care quality isn’t impacted by personal traits or preferences
3) How Length of Stay is aligned with Quality – Our work on length of stay touches many of the pillars above ensuring safe, effective, patient-centered, timely and efficient care. October closed at 5.6 days for Acute ALOS at St. Peter; a half-day higher than we were in 2025 and about where we started 2026. I need your continued partnership to:
a. Avoid unnecessary admissions – admitting patients for social reasons or for things that can be completed in an outpatient setting impacts throughput and prevents a patient with a medical need from getting a bed. Admitting without medical necessity can also create financial burden for patients when there are insurance denials after a stay.
b. Discharge when medically ready – Work with care management and families to coordinate discharge as soon as patients are medically ready. Talk early and often about discharge plans and backup plans, remembering that for most patients, going home is the preferred and best option.
c. Ensure patients are mobile – Enter mobility orders for EVERY patient.