Accountability 101
You never know how accountability will show itself. Several years ago, my typical life took a terrifying turn, when my wife of ten years suddenly became gravely ill. Up until that point I had never really considered how much of a team we were, how we depended upon one another. As I sat by her bedside in intensive care I was forced to contemplate what my life would be like without her.
As an employee at EMMC-a biomedical electronics technician-I was probably more aware of my surroundings in her hospital room than a typical family member. As I passed the time, holding her hand--and almost as a professional reflex-- I glanced at the inspection sticker on the side of the ventilator. Our policy back then required each ventilator to be checked and serviced every six months.
To my surprise and pride, it was my own signature I found on the sticker. It could have been anyone of my colleagues' name written there and I would have been confident that the equipment was in top condition. I knew how high EMMC's standards were for equipment maintenance. But seeing my name on that sticker was a pivotal moment of discovery-one that I have carried with me. The machine that I had so carefully maintained for our patients was now keeping my wife alive.
The Moral of the Story:
You never know when the work you do will make a life or death difference for someone you love. Approach every task understanding the deep impact your work has on other people's lives. |
