Blame the messenger, lose the war for maturity and respect

When a prominent leader in the profession, well-liked and well-respected by just about everyone in the industry, succumbs to an ethical lapse that leads to his resignation, it’s only fitting that his colleagues and compatriots rally to his defense. Anything less than those valiant efforts would be a shame for someone who has contributed such a great deal to the intellectual development of healthcare expense management professionals and to the bottom line of his employers.

Even though it may be painful for fellow professionals to read details about a fallen comrade it’s important for the media to report on those details – but not to condemn, convict or even criticize the individual, which in this case should be left to the court of public opinion and his most recent and future employers. Instead, media like HPN – specifically, the Fast Foreward column – report on these details to stimulate critical thinking about their own individual behavior and conduct, as well as that of the profession at large.

Some have notified us that The Miami Herald didn’t report all the facts on what really happened with Al Cook, one of materials management’s thought leaders, and shame on us for unfairly regurgitating those “facts” at the expense of Cook’s reputation. Unfortunately, those readers missed the valuable point we were trying to emphasize – and it wasn’t that Cook was some kind of miscreant or scoundrel.

Whether the alleged incidents that led to Cook’s resignation at Jackson Memorial Hospital was based on the unethical behavior of a Cardinal sales representative or something else tinged with conspiratorial undertones doesn’t change the fact that Cook allowed himself to be entangled in a compromising situation. At the very least, if Cook is guilty of anything it’s simply poor judgment. It happens to all of us. But then we have to be accountable for the repercussions, which includes any lasting impressions and perceptions of the profession as a whole. All it takes is the misstep – no matter how innocent – of one lawyer, politician or reporter for public opinion to sour on the legal, government or journalistic professions.

With public opinion already predetermined to snicker at these professions the last thing they need is for another lawyer, politician or reporter to justify these preconceived notions. The same logic applies here. The materials management profession continually fights for respect from players in the C-suite, group purchasing organizations and vendors, many of whom, by and large, historically dismiss them as basement clerks. Incidents like the one that transpired at Jackson Memorial Hospital only fan the flames of disrespect.

Hopefully, we all acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them and move on never to make those mistakes again. Eventually, history will “forget” what happened at Jackson – allegedly or not – and who was responsible – allegedly or not. Certainly someone like Cook, with his skills and talents, should be able to land somewhere else to start anew.

If anything, healthcare materials managers need to examine their own business conduct so they can avoid slipping into a compromising situation. AHRMM typically hosts one educational session during its annual conference that addresses ethical and legal behavior and conduct. Unfortunately, that session tends to be scheduled concurrently with some newfangled and trendy IDN purchasing or distribution strategy that attracts more attendees. Maybe it’s time for the industry to refresh some memories and reinforce the basic tenets of business. You don’t have to be a materials manager to know that.

Rick Dana Barlow