The Ridge CEO, Lisa Richardson, reflects on the state of the industry and what sets The Ridge apart.

On my way to The Ridge today I was singing along with country music stars, Old Dominion, to the song, “No such thing as a broken heart.”  The lyrics that came next hit my heart with part sweet honey mixed with the sting of a bee…. “chase after the dream, don’t chase after the money.”

Chase after the dream, don’t chase after the money.

In the rapidly changing environment of drug treatment, there are mergers, acquisitions and closures announced every week.  Staff is uprooted, patients are impacted, money changes hands.  The name on the front of the building doesn’t match the one on the phone at times.  If we look around, most people would say the motivating factor behind many of the changes that are coming our way has to do with one thing: money. That’s business, right? Money matters.

This week at The Ridge, we are handing out 100 Grand candy bars to all staff to announce a new annual bonus plan that will be based upon patient satisfaction and company performance. Why? Money matters.

Here’s the thing though: if we lose sight of the dream, all the money in the world won’t heal that.  Sure, money is great and vital to business and families, but if we lose sight of the dream of changed lives and wellness, lasting recovery will never happen. The core of the program at The Ridge has always been to put the patient first and do what is best for their personal recovery, and this will continue to guide all that we do every day.  I’m honored to be the leader that gets to move this 5-star rated treatment facility into the future; standing tall up on that hill in Ohio for years regardless of the winds of change that move around it.

Keep chasing the dream. Even when the winds of change are all around, keep your roots deep in recovery-based care. Doing the right thing for the patient will always pay off.