Inspiring Mediclinic staff to enhance patient experience

Posted on 14 March 2017

‘It’s easy to get frustrated when things aren’t going well in our lives, or when we’re going through tough times, but always remember there is opportunity in those hard times.’ A very special motivational speaker recently brought inspiration to Mediclinic staff.

All too often, the stresses of life and what it throws our way can get us down. Working in the healthcare industry is demanding and it takes special people – from admin staff through to specialists – to handle the day-to-day rigours of helping patients deal with health challenges.

Long hours and difficult shifts can drain our energy and leave us physically and emotionally exhausted. It’s at times like these when we need a morale boost – an injection of inspiration that reminds us just how fortunate we are to be in a position to help others.

Making the impossible possible

American motivational speaker Craig Dietz recently addressed staff and patients at Mediclinic Muelmed’s Neuro and Spinal Rehabilitation Centre in Pretoria. Like all motivational speakers, Craig is dynamic. He’s an attorney and an accomplished long-distance open-water swimmer who also skis, plays the drums, is a league competitor in ten-pin bowling, and an avid all-round outdoor sportsman.

But what puts Craig ahead of other active, inspirational people is that he has no arms or legs. Born without limbs into an active family with siblings, Craig made the conscious decision as a young boy to never allow his disability to get the better of him. With the support and encouragement of his parents, Craig approached his physical challenges as if they were just another playground dare, never seeing them as obstacles or limitations. He went through the same schooling system as his peers, played sports, learned music, was involved in a host of extra-mural activities, and studied at university.

He made sure that he was as independent as anyone else, insisting on living in his own apartment and even driving his own appropriately converted van.

Now in his late thirties, Craig no longer practises law but rather spends his time motivating people around the world by showing them the potential they have to be better people.

The primary reason for his visit to South Africa was to swim in the Midmar Mile as part of the cancer charity Pink Drive’s fundraising campaign at the event. Recognised as the world largest open-water swimming event, Craig has swum in the Midmar Mile before – he completed two miles in the event in 2013. This year he swam seven miles – way further than more than 80% of able-bodied competitors in the event.

No stranger to long-distance swims, Craig became the first quadruple amputee to swim the 4.4-mile breadth of Chesapeake Bay in the US. He has also completed the Pittsburgh Triathlon every year since 2008.

‘Define your own potential’

Craig told the audience at Mediclinic Muelmed to define their own potential, rather than allow the challenges they face to define them.

‘It’s easy to get frustrated when things aren’t going well in our lives, or when we’re going through tough times, but always remember there is opportunity in those hard times. Don’t allow difficult or bad situations to control you. Rather make good with them,’ he said.

‘We can also encourage resilience in others, simply by positively reinforcing them and helping them to find new ways to approach testing situations.’

Craig emphasised the importance of having a sense of humour in life. ‘Having the ability to laugh at ourselves during difficult situations helps to give us fortitude and the strength to endure challenges.’

‘Craig delivered a powerful message, showing us how important it is to never allow life’s challenges to get us down. We should always strive to find a way to make things possible,’ says Johann Dednam, organiser of the event and manager of patient experience at the nearby Mediclinic Kloof.