Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa Team Meetings | Building Better Patient Care

Why We Meet Every Wednesday: Building Stronger Teams for Better Patient Care

At Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa, we believe that the best care for our patients starts long before they step into an exam room. It begins with a team that is connected, well-informed, and united in our mission to provide the highest quality experience. That’s why every Wednesday morning, without fail, our entire team comes together: front office, back office, doctors, and even our Fort Dodge staff who join via Zoom if they cannot be with us in person.

Some people think we are a little unusual for doing this. Many clinics never hold team meetings; others only gather once a month. But we see this time as invaluable. Our patients deserve nothing less than a team that is in sync, educated, and ready to provide care that is not only clinically excellent but also compassionate and efficient.

What Makes Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa Team Meetings Different

Every Wednesday begins with something we call our “1% wins.” Each person shares both a personal and a professional success from the past week; growth is not just about what happens at work, it is about becoming the best version of ourselves in every area of life. From there, we take time to give “shoutouts” to teammates who have gone above and beyond: moments of recognition that highlight the everyday ways our staff supports each other, our doctors, and our patients.

We also mix in activities that make us stronger together. Sometimes that means team-building games; often, it means focused education: better understanding the thought process behind a treatment plan, learning about new technologies, or gaining insight into the surgical procedures we perform. The more our entire team understands what our doctors are thinking, seeing, and doing, the better prepared we are to guide patients through their care journey.

Why It Matters for Our Patients

When our team meets weekly, we do not just exchange information; we build trust, improve efficiency, and create space to address concerns that may have been voiced by patients or staff. These conversations ensure we are not only resolving issues quickly but also proactively identifying ways to improve.

Our patients may never see these Wednesday mornings firsthand, but they feel the impact: smoother visits, better communication, and care delivered by a team that is deeply connected and genuinely invested in their wellbeing.

A Team That Looks Forward to Meeting

One of the most telling signs of our culture is that our staff actually misses these meetings when they do not happen. How many workplaces can say their employees are disappointed when a meeting is canceled? That speaks volumes about the dedication and engagement of our team. We are fortunate to have people who are not only skilled in their roles but also passionate about learning, growing, and supporting one another.

Our Commitment

Ultimately, our Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa team meetings are about more than logistics or updates; they are about living out our commitment to continuous growth and to always striving for excellence in patient care. By making the time every single week, we ensure that our team is aligned, our communication is strong, and our focus remains where it belongs: on providing the very best for the patients who trust us with their care.

At Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa, we know that great medicine is about more than knowledge and skill; it is about people working together toward a shared goal. And for us, that goal is simple: helping our patients live happy, functional, pain-free lives.