... The coaching relationship quickly expanded into many areas including:

·         Planning – both long term and quarterly

·         Focus – eliminating some of the inevitable noise and distraction that arise in large organizations

·         Team assessment and motivation

·         Networking – events aimed at introducing doctors and administrators to their colleagues in other specialties and geographic areas

·         Local (practice) Mission/Vision statements

To mention a few.

Over time, I was promoted three times, ultimately to Senior Vice President of the Physicians Administrative Alliance (PAA), overseeing 565 physicians, 135 advanced clinical practitioners and 2,100 staff members.  With each promotion came more responsibility, team, practices, and departments to manage. Michael assisted me in every step of my journey. The hospital had created the PAA to consolidate all the outpatient practices owned by WUH. In addition, I was responsible for acquiring additional practices. Under my leadership, and with Michael’s assistance the PAA grew from 45 to more than 100 practices – covering Brooklyn to the east end of Long Island.

I assigned Michael to coach many of my direct reports and many of their direct reports including administrative directors, practice managers, and nurse managers. On the clinical side, Michael coached physicians who were in leadership roles or who were being groomed for leadership roles. The value of business coaching to non-business professionals was invaluable. Their instincts along with Michael’s entrepreneurial knowledge and guidance allowed us to achieve an amazing level of success. Each physician and practice began to see themselves as an independent business. By embracing Michael and his ActionCOACH techniques we felt the sky was the limit for achieving our goals of growth and customer service.

I cannot give any better testimonial than that we planned, we worked the ActionCOACH philosophy and methods, and set and exceeded goals here to fore not achieved in a non-profit setting. Revenue, patient satisfaction, patient volume growth, patient retention, and charitable donations were all greatly increased.

Currently, I continue to work with Michael as a trusted advisor and sounding board.

Edward Chewens, Queens, New York