Doctor's Secret - K.C. Crowne Page 0,4

of the state. But I’m beyond pleased to report that every single one of you has lived up to the very high expectations I’ve set.” I looked each of them in the eyes. “However, we’re not done. Not by a longshot.”

I leaned forward and tapped the arrow key, bringing up the next slide. Gasps sounded from the audience, and I grinned. I’d been hoping to shock them, and that seemed to be just the reaction I’d elicited. I rose, slipping my right hand into the pocket of my light-gray slacks, letting my thumb hang out.

“How many locations is that?” Dr. Sean Price, my lead ENT guy asked.

“Ten. Five more locations.” I swept my hand before the screen. Five new blue dots were on the map of the state. “By this time next year I want a Pitt Medical Group in every major population center of the state, with multiple in Denver and Colorado Springs.”

“You think you can expand that quickly?” Dr. Price asked. “We’re going to need to double our staff just to fill the ranks. Hell, we’re going to need to do more than double it.”

“I know. And this is where all of you come in. Over the last year you’ve proven to me that you’re not simply excellent doctors, but excellent talent scouts as well. When I brought you on board, I gave you free rein to hand-pick your staff, just as I hand-picked you. And that’s what you’re going to do next. I want you to go through your teams, find out which among your people will be the most qualified to run their own office. I know it won’t be easy to part with them, but you’ll soon have the opportunity to refill your ranks.”

“You think it’ll be that easy to find new people?” Dr. Mary Weiss, the head of my psychiatry division, asked.

I nodded my understanding. “I know it will. We’ve been establishing something of a reputation over the last year, a place where doctors have the resources they need, where they don’t have to fight with a massive, bloated bureaucracy to do what they’ve been trained to do. When you work for me, for us, all you have to bring to the table are your skills and a desire to help. And that’s made us an incredibly attractive place to work.”

I stepped slowly away from the screen, letting the staff take in the sight.

“I’ve emailed all of you the resumes I’ve been collecting over the last year. Among them you’ll find some of the best talent this country has to offer. You’ll soon see that the problem won’t be finding talent but deciding from among it.” I grinned. “And try not to fight amongst yourselves for the top picks.”

Light laughter rose from the crowd. I could tell my plans were going over well.

“Now,” I said, straightening my back and squaring my shoulders. “I’ve given everyone much to consider. But I’m not done with you yet. What I’ve shared are merely my plans for the next year – but I’m thinking beyond that.”

I stepped to the computer and pressed another key. The image that appeared was not simply of Colorado, but all of the surrounding states in the region. And they all had dots indicating expansion. More gasps followed along with quiet chatter flowing through the room.

“I want to leave you with a taste of what I’ve got in mind not for simply the next year, but the next three years.” Another grin appeared on my face. “And the next five.” One more keystroke pulled the image back even further, this picture showing the entire United States, a dot in every major city.

The gasps from the audience suggested they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“When you joined Pitt Medical Group, you signed up for the career of a lifetime. And I’m going to give it to you,” I announced. “In one decade, I want us to grow from a highly successful handful of private practice centers to an institution that rivals the hospital industry. And you’re all coming along for the ride. Thank you.”

The room exploded with questions, and I answered every last one of them. By the time the hour was over, I needed a break, a few minutes to cool my head before getting started on the rest of the day.

I bid farewell to the audience one-by-one, and when they’d all left, I hurried back to my office. I started my coffee machine, preparing a cup and sipping it as I stood in