Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:04 Welcome to the groves connection. Today's off cycle bonus episode. We'll give you a quick preview of what's in the works for upcoming podcasts. It will provide key updates for the master connectors among our listeners, and perhaps even get a bit over the edge with well poetry. I will share a personal story and invite you to contact me and tell me who you'd like to see on the show, what questions you're dying to ask. And we'll also invite you to share your opinions on what's wrong with our current system and what each of us can do to influence positive change the master connectors. Those of you who follow the show and support transparency and open honest discussion, know that over the course of the next season, we'll be interviewing those who steer govern work within or are the recipients of healthcare in the U S we will seek to see the big picture by taking a variety of perspectives, asking interesting questions and continuously learning together.
Speaker 1 00:01:03 It is my highest hope that through this process of learning together, that we arrive at a consensus for transformation or at a minimum, we collectively develop a new mental model of the healthcare industry, a model that helps us understand what work is necessary. If we are to have a brighter future together, as we take in a holistic view of the people, the culture and the financials that drive us, maybe we can escape the divisive us versus them posture and reach a true consensus. Perhaps it's time for a grassroots effort to shift the momentum and break the stalemate in the healthcare coverage debate. We'd, neatened adopt single payer to get universal coverage, and we needn't lose the age of competition. If prices are made transparent to all, we can start a movement, a movement of connectors, master connectors who know the value of human relationships and leverage that skill to quite literally save lives.
Speaker 1 00:02:00 Yet we can also respect the tenets of science and understand it as an ever evolving question. That takes us closer and closer to the truth. We've already in a few short weeks, heard from key leaders within the industry, including two physicians, a nurse, and a pharmacist. There are certainly many more perspectives in each of those categories, and there are many more categories, but we will also hear from those outside the industry. For example, we will soon hear from the CEO of a chemical plant. How did he think about healthcare? What is he looking for? What are his beliefs about the influences that drive up costs? What are the consequences of our current spend? His answers may surprise. You will also hear the man that I called the king of the internet. Bad boy cognizanti. And I mean, bad as in good in this particular circumstance and already scheduled is a guest from Harvard who has not only been integral to the current transformation, but is also an accomplished entrepreneur professor and scholar.
Speaker 1 00:03:01 I can't wait to connect with all of you and I eagerly await your suggestions. If you'd like to join us, share your opinion or suggest a guest or ask a question. I invite you to visit the newly-minted website at Robert groves, md.com. Here, you can learn a bit more about me, listen to the podcast directly and contact me with your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Future build out will include many additional features. So stay tuned, check back often and follow the groves connection on your favorite platform to be sure you never miss a beat. And just a couple more items. I recently lost a dear friend of 40 years to sudden death. The grief has been palpable among both family and friends. Ray was a master connector. He spread friendship and joy. He made sure that the tight group of friends that together had embarked on adult head so many years ago, stayed together.
Speaker 1 00:03:58 He was the glue. We will all miss him, miss him terribly. And our grief as friends cannot compare with that of his family. And my heart goes out to them every day. It also made me reflect on those who have lost loved ones to the pandemic and how the double hit of a pandemic coupled with profound personal loss can shake us to our very core. Maybe it's a wake-up call to strip away the non-essential, the divisive and the trite. I was fortunate. I got to see Ray last fall and winter more than I had in the last decade or two combined. We had stayed in touch, but over the last year, Ray and I had become close. He was one of two best men at my wedding to Elizabeth. We spent hours of quality time together. He had something to teach me about friendship and living fully about never saying no to an opportunity to get together with old friends.
Speaker 1 00:04:53 But most of all, his lesson was that there was only one reason to connect and that is to love. So tell the people around you, what they mean to you. Love them fully. Give them your attention, your time, yourself, love them warts and all say it now and say it often. I love you. And that brings me to my next topic. It's spring. And the virus is receding. The people are getting vaccinated. We see the early bloom on the flower of our former lives. It's been lying, fallow and ready to burst forth. No, we're not completely out of the woods. With regard to the virus, we have to stop its progress around the world. We have to return to our former lives intelligently, but return. We must, we can no longer hide from our connected brothers and sisters around the planet. They suffer as we do many suffer, far worse than we might imagine.
Speaker 1 00:05:46 So wave the patents, donate vaccine and vaccinators. Each of us should get vaccinated just as soon as we can. This is love in action. Love your can, wherever they may be. And it's spring. And the virus is receding. I'm not advocating that we throw caution to the wind, but the CDC guidance is spot on. In my view, it's not clear perhaps or comprehensive, but the intent is easy to understand. Let's not get hung up on the negatives. If you're vaccinated, your risk of consequential infection is small, very small, tiny, even you can get back to life, especially with those who like you have had the vaccine. We must open the way for those small businesses to flourish, to create jobs and decorate our lives with moments of joy and connection. Get this going soon and we can meet and even exceed the jobs necessary for those who lost work during the pandemic, we must also give hope for a brighter future with lessons learned.
Speaker 1 00:06:49 And so I leave you with two points. The first is a rewrite of a poem that I wrote about my dear friend Ray, about 40 years ago in our second year of college together, it was a silly poem and was decidedly not ready for prime time, but it somehow resonated with his personality and he loved it. After his death. I rewrote the pawn, which I'll read for you. Now, the Mayfield mess, the Mayfield mess by Robert groves. Listen, my children and I'll confess the embarrassing story of the Mayfield mess. He wasn't a big man, no man of steel, but the legacy he left my friends was for real, he'd walk in a dorm room, turn over your Coke, throw on an album, grab your peanuts and smokes. The mess from Mayfield was a curious dude who could be quite generous and free with your food, but with face so Geillis and countenance, glad it was seriously hard to be pissed at the lead his way with the ladies, he told us about didn't work for the freshmen.
Speaker 1 00:07:53 The dude had struck out it is my fault. I don't understand this place. Ain't like Mayfield. I don't like it here, man. The ladies don't love me. They aren't digging my groove. If I can't get ladies, then I'm going to move. But Ray never left us for a cow. And one day he dined with some girls who convinced him to stay from then on. He shined like a radiant star and spread his good cheer, both near and then far. And his brothers. Those scattered would soon come to say, he's the glue of our group, spreading friendship. This way, that big mess from Mayfield all would soon come to learn, had a gift to give back. And he was taking his turn spreading friendship and joy was his gift they'd confess. And no one could weave a cool story on Les. Ray was a legend. We now later arrest Ray was my friend and one of the best we will all really miss you. You crept into hearts and not even death will keep us apart. Keep smiling and laughing and know that it's true. That Ray lives on inside me inside you. Goodbye, dear friend, as you take your new role and forever, you nurture our hearts and our souls. May the Lord keep you close. May he also bless our friend and our brother, the Mayfield mess. We love you Ray forever.
Speaker 1 00:09:30 And finally for my family, my friends and all the connectors out there. I love you. Pass it on. Oh yes. And it is spraying and the virus is receding. And with that, my second poem for today, a record. Well, I hope strike a happier note. As we move into the holiday weekend, I call this one spring and I must say with apologies to Lewis Carroll for the sample spring by Robert groves, let's go traipsing through the woods with flowers in our hair. Let's listen to the rites of spring. Our noses in the air. Let's make fun of serious. Let's toss out silly lines, pull our trousers way up high and make up silly rhymes. Lets dance just like Ben Vareen or float like Fred Astaire. Go do almost anything, have fun without a care. Let's loosen up our collars and throw off both our shoes.
Speaker 1 00:10:29 Let's sneak out late at night and go swimming in the nude. Let's lay down all our troubles at the river by the shore. Let's forgive our friends and neighbors for behaviors. We have whore. Let's break out in a riot of righteousness and peace. Let's smile at friends and enemies with roses in our teeth. Let's wash away all our sins and wipe away our tears break out and raucous laughter let's pacify our fears. Let's prepare a table with abundance all around and plant the seeds of happiness and find our common ground. Let's try to find the good things and everything that's wrong and whether we can sing or not. Let's sing a silly song for now is not the time to whine or ruminate or moan because the season is upon us. Our hearts are coming home. Let's hug a perfect stranger kiss children on the nose. Let's wander on the beaches. Feel the sand between our toes for the land is topsy turvy. Barmy love is everywhere. Calu Calais O frabjous day. Yes. Spring is in the
Speaker 2 00:11:39 Thanks for listening. You've been listening to the groves connection, your connection to the inside story on healthcare. Featuring in-depth interviews with those who know you can find us on apple podcast, Spotify, and anywhere else, you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, give us a five-star review to keep the connection going and hit the subscribe button to be sure you never miss a beat. The groves connection is produced by Dr. Robert groves, original music editing and creative direction provided by Alton groves, production support, content guidance, courtesy of Janae sharp and Elizabeth Barrett. Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 00:12:32 The professional ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast are mined and do not reflect those of any current or past employers. Thank you so much for listening and we hope you'll join us next time on the groves connection.
