Over the 14 years I’ve written this column, I’ve always tried to speak from the heart. Sometimes I’ve fired off rants about a certain piece of public policy. Other times I’ve been a bit more sentimental, or at least as sentimental as my inherent crustiness allows. But through it all, I’ve always tried to maintain the important balance that exists in healthcare — a balance between medicine and humanity, between policy and a deeper purpose.

I recently stumbled upon a book that sums up those feelings. It’s called The Heart Speaks, and it’s written by a long-practicing cardiologist named Mimi Guarneri. Guarneri writes with great proficiency about the mechanics of the heart and the science that allows it to power the human body. But more importantly, she examines the heart’s many mysteries, such as how grief, depression, loneliness and anger can ravage the organ as sure as high cholesterol and smoking can.

There are important lessons in this book, for all of us personally and for healthcare as an institution. For those of us working too long and juggling too much, or those of us harboring long-simmering feelings of anger, guilt or some other toxic emotion, we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to listen to our heart. As Dr. Guarneri writes, forgiveness, prayer and gratitude can be every bit as healing as a cutting-edge prescription drug.

And for the providers of healthcare, we must always, always strive for more compassionate medicine. In this fast-paced, high-tech age, patients need practitioners who rely on both their expertise and their humanity.

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My heart tells me it’s time to move on.

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Speaking of hearts, mine is telling me it’s time to move on. This will be my last “Healthcare Focus” commentary. I’m retiring this month after 14 years at NJHA and more than 35 years in healthcare. I have no grand plans, other than to spend more time with my beautiful wife, Susan, our children and our growing brood of much-adored grandchildren. I will be leaving this organization in the able care of Betsy Ryan, who will continue helping the state’s hospitals as they go about their vitally important work of caring for the people of New Jersey.

New Jersey’s hospital community is rocked by many challenges that I’ve discussed at great length in this space. I hope through it all that the people and leaders of our state recognize the immeasurable worth of New Jersey’s hospitals and the 150,000 dedicated individuals who keep them operating 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. They are the lifeblood of our system, the heart and soul of healthcare. It has been my honor to represent them.

Thank you for allowing my heart to speak to you all of these years. Good health and Godspeed.

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