2020: a year of challenges and learning for the entire Baxter RCS team
One of the most complex years that we have lived as humanity in the last century is coming to an end. We will undoubtedly come out of this year stronger.
Our regional managers from Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Guatemala summarized the hardest, but also the most rewarding of this 2020; the lessons, the challenges faced in each country and the advice they would give their teams for a 2021 full of success.
Alfonso Bunch, Clinical Director LATAM and Operations Manager Baxter RCS Colombia
What teachings did 2020 bring for you?
It is important to take measured risks and adapt to the situations we had to face. Despite the challenges, we managed to implement models that allowed us to continue caring for patients and our work team.
What was the biggest challenge for your country's business in 2020?
The biggest challenge was meeting the demand for acute care for COVID-19-associated kidney injury at such a high volume.
What advice would you give your teams to approach 2021 in the best way?
Continue challenging the way we do things, seek growth opportunities and do things more efficiently.
Flor María Cáceres, Operations Manager of Baxter RCS Ecuador
What teachings did 2020 bring for you?
This year reinforced in me the value of the basics, family and health, things that we sometimes take for granted. When we share a mission as beautiful as ours, to "save and sustain lives", finding new, better and challenging ways of doing things becomes easier, never before have we shown the value of gratitude and recognition.
What was the biggest challenge for your country's business in 2020?
From a business point of view, it was a particularly difficult year; both in terms of recognition of sales due to fiscal cash issues in Ecuador and from the point of view of people management and finding how to lead and keep our teams cohesive, identified with the focus of action.
What advice would you give your teams to approach 2021 in the best way?
That they always give their best, that they give themselves the opportunity to make mistakes, but learn from them to move forward. That they be optimistic, because there are always more and better ways of doing things, that they dare to challenge the conventional, that they innovate and make a difference, because we have a great opportunity to continue making Baxter RCS the best place to work and to that our patients are cared for.
Luis Fernando Aragón, Senior Manager of Baxter RCS Brazil
What teachings did 2020 bring for you?
Many paradigms changed due to this pandemic and people's ability and speed of adaptation were put to the test. No one was prepared, and nature struck just when we had all the answers, but resilience, collaboration and teamwork – both at home and at work – have shown us that together we are stronger.
What was the biggest challenge for your country's business in 2020?
Taking care of our employees and partners and our patients was our priority; We work hard on a culture of self-care and have made changes and investments to improve safety and ensure the well-being of all.
What advice would you give your teams to approach 2021 in the best way?
I would say that we have to mold our minds to see the opportunities that problems provide and that giving up is not a solution as long as there is a way to go.
Luis Alfonso Pineda Operations Manager Baxter RCS Guatemala
What teachings did 2020 bring for you? Definitely, that we are capable of reacting efficiently and overcoming unexpected challenges; modifying working conditions, adapting to new realities and managing crises are lessons that remain from a very difficult 2020.
What was the biggest challenge for your country's business in 2020? Patient outflows due to mortality, low patient referrals and complex business conditions in times of pandemic, as well as managing the uncertainty and fear generated by a prolonged health crisis.
What advice would you give your teams to approach 2021 in the best way? That we move forward with an open mind, ready to overcome the new challenges that may arise during the coming year. Also, that we continue to motivate, grow the company, develop and lead the people who are part of RCS's high-performance teams and generate good results.