Here in Chattanooga

This is to give everyone an update on my recent job move. On Sunday I left Southeast Pennsylvania in the midst of snow flurries and there was a strong snow fall just north of where Alan and Janie live. Please forgive me for not stopping as I didn’t want to get in too late (so I could see part of the Super Bowl at least, for a moment we thought the 49er’s may do it). Basically that night I reported in (to Sharon) and went to bed after finding what I needed the next day. The first thing my new boss gave me was a week long orientation schedule of folks to visit and meetings to go to. I had about 1 hour the first day to talk with some of my staff and clear off the top of my desk.

What a rush it is to go through a change like this! First off, Sharon and I have no idea when we’ll be ready to put the house on the market and no idea with She and Katie will be coming down. I spent all my energies before leaving PA to clearing off the projects on my work desk in Reading and working on the house to fix up things needing fixing. So, by Monday night all I wanted to do after supper is get some sleep. My impressions of my new hospital is that this is not Pennsylvania or Kansas. The hospital is located in an older section of town between two major busy roads. One of the first things my lead maintenance mechanic told me after showing me where to park is that there were two shootings in the house in recent months just across the street! I just outside the building where my office is and yesterday I was panhandled!

But everyone on the hospital staff is so glad to see me. I’m developing a big list of things to do even though my main emphasis is on meeting people and finding my way around. The hospital is going through a construction project and disruption and chaos are everywhere. Still, folks are looking forward to new private and semi-private patient rooms due to open this spring. Last night I met briefly with the team of doctors seeing the patients and got a nice welcome from them too.

When I say there is a lot of things to do I’m mainly thinking of how I can make a difference within my department and in supporting the rehabilitation services we provide. I’ve always found a high degree of professionalism on the part of HealthSouth employees and there is no difference here. I can bring some of my experience from Pennsylvania into this hospital and make it and our environmental services people shine. I am a good organizer so doing this really gets me going.

It has been a joy for me to spend some time with Nathan too. Monday we had supper at a burrito place in St Elmo and last night we made spaghetti for supper. We still have to work out a schedule for suppers and other chores. I think I’m still getting caught up on my sleep because this morning I woke up at almost the time I was planning on leaving for the day! I set my cell phone to gong at the right time but didn’t hear it! This has got to be a first, usually I’m awake before the alarm goes off.

I know this is a bit long. Just thought I’d acknowledge the first phase is complete of the Brauer relocation back to Chattanooga/Lookout Mountain.

Hope to see some of the locals soon.

Woody