Stop & Call Your Dad - Father’s Day Bonus (ft. Herb Marx)

Thanks for tuning to Digital Voices Podcast, where we chat digital transformation, challenges, and opportunities across healthcare and life sciences. And now, your host, Ed Marx.

Hey everyone, Digital Voices. Hey, this is our special Father's Day drop, and I thought, hey, there's no better guest for Father's Day drop than my own dad. Herb Marx. Dad, welcome to Digital Voices. Hi.

Hi, everybody.

It's good to have you again. You know, you were my guest during the pandemic and we talked about virtual care. Remember, we talked about virtual care and how instead of having to go to the hospital, you could use a camera and see physicians. Are you still doing virtual care or is it all in person?

I do all in person right now.

Yeah, do you like that better?

I like that much better.

How come?

Because I can see the facial expression.

Oh yeah, okay.

And I can see the smiles on the medical people.

Yeah, that's true. You lose out on some of that personalization.

When they notice that I'm doing better.

Yeah, so Dad, tell us a little bit about yourself. So, uh, who are you and, you know, where are you from? Where do you live?

Yeah, okay. I was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, and right now I live in Alamosa, Colorado, in the United States of America.

Awesome. And how long have you been in the United States? And, you know, how old are you and what are you doing these days?

I'm 89 years old. I came to the United States on August 4th, 1946, and I'm retired. And I live in a senior living facility, and I'm starting to enjoy life again.

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, what's one of the reasons?

After being sick.

Yeah, right. The last time you were on, you know, you had gone through a lot of health situations, but you've been super healthy the last couple years. What do you attribute your health to? Like, what do you do, do you think, that keeps you healthy and independent? At age 89?

Well, I do exercise and I try to eat correctly, and I'm also falling in love again.

Oh yeah, yeah, that's awesome. Tell us about Linda. How did you meet Linda?

We met on an elite dating site and things are moving forward.

Yeah, but see, that was virtual, right? You met her virtually, but you mix it up with a little bit of in-person now.

Yeah, in fact, the last time I met her, I met the entire family. And of course they like me.

Yeah, so you're still together. That's always a really important test. But it's interesting, right, that your relationship is both virtual, meaning you have— you talk on FaceTime every night, But also in person. So kind of like we do with healthcare today, right? It's a little bit of mix of both. So I wanna just stop right now and just encourage everyone listening that they should call their dads. So if you're listening right now to Digital Voices, you should put this episode on pause and call your dad. And Dad, what do you like your sons and daughters? Do you like it when they call you? Do you— what? Tell the audience, you know, what they should do. Why should they call their dad?

Well, if I get a call from my kids, number one, it lets me know that the kids are doing okay. And number two, even more importantly, it lets you know that the kids care about you. It's nice to know when you are loved by your children. And unfortunately, unfortunately, not every family has a Excellent relationship between children and their parents. But I think that I have it, and it's enjoyable.

Yes.

When I talk to my colleagues at the senior living, we exchange stories about our children, and I noticed that I'm doing quite well.

Yeah, life's too short. No, that's awesome because you're very well loved. And yeah, that's a great message. So everyone, again, if you're listening and don't have a good relationship with your mom or dad, it's Father's Day, so we're focused on the dads, but call your dad and just let bygones be bygones and just have a good conversation. Let him know that you care about him, that you think about him, that you love him, and take it from there. But also for moms, it's not Mother's Day, it is a Father's Day drop, but obviously, If your mom's alive, mine isn't sadly, but if she is, do the same thing. Give your mom a call and go visit your mom and dad. Dad, anything you wanna say? A lot of people listening, they are in healthcare and lead, they're leaders in healthcare and they lead technology and a lot of different parts of healthcare. Anything you wanna advise to give people who work in healthcare?

Take care of your patients and make sure that your patients have contact with their families. I think the healthcare people can encourage the patients to get them to contact you, and you should let them know when they contact you that you really appreciate them. For thinking of you. In other words, the old folks like me should not be— should not feel that they've been abandoned.

Yeah.

That they're still— that we are still part of the family, even though we may not be living in the same household.

Hey, my dad's just dropping some 89-year-old wisdom on all of us. I think that was profound. None of this was scripted. And you're right, Dad, it's super important. A lot of times in healthcare, we're so quick We're so fast, we have to get through each patient as fast as possible that we only focus on like that 1% of whatever that top-of-mind issue is. But we have to think more holistically because it's all part of the mental care, the whole body care. And that's to find out about family and encourage those family relationships so that there's no regrets and it's part of that ecosystem for wellness. So very good. Hey, Dad, any— I'm gonna give you the last word. Any last comments you wanna share with me or anyone in my audience?

Well, no, we seem to be talking about healthcare. I find it very refreshing when the healthcare people refer to your family members. A lot of my physicians, they know my situation. Some of them know some of my kids and they always say, how is Edward? How's your daughter in Vail? Is she still going skiing? And things like this. Yeah. When the healthcare people take an interest in your personal life, It only has to be a little bit. It makes me as a patient feel much better because I notice that the healthcare people are not only interested in my medical situation, but also in my mental situation. That they want to make sure that I'm connected with the family.

Yeah, that's a second nugget my dad's dropping on all of us. And that's the hyper-personalization in healthcare. You need to know your patient. You need to know about their family situation, but then talk to them as if you really do care and you know about them. So that, Dad, I agree with you. When I go in and see my physician and they ask about, hey, how's Simran doing? Or how my kids are doing, or how's my dad doing? And, you know, I think it shows that they really care. It's a next level of in-depth, you know, care, personalization that makes me feel valued and not just, you know, part of a factory.

Yeah.

So that's really good.

Right, and an example is that my daughter Sandy here, for example, when I come and go, she wants to make sure that I have all my diabetes medical stuff with me. And that's very important that you see your family members caring that your medical condition is taken care of. So wherever I go, I'm always reminded that. Have you got your insulin with you? Have you got your pills with you? And all this stuff. It's very important to see that your family cares about your physical condition.

Yeah, that's absolutely true. Yeah, it's another reason to stop right now listening, call your mom, call your dad, let them know that you love them, check in on them, encourage them in their healthcare, in their wellness. And you know, just be family. So, so Dad, I I love you. Happy Father's Day. I will see you soon this summer a couple times, I'm sure. And and you're the best dad ever.

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

You're you're one of you're one of my favorite seven kids.

I know you wanted to say I'm your favorite, but you were looking around, so. I think my audience can tell you're in a busy kitchen because we can hear all the kitchen activities of one of my sisters where you're staying. And I know you wanted to say I was your favorite, but since she's right there in the kitchen, you couldn't say it. But I know it, so it's all good. All right, Dad. I love you. Take care.

I love you too.

Okay.

That wraps up— And regards to your family.

Yes, of course. Thank you. And that wraps up Digital Voices. I hope you liked. What my dad had to say is dropped a couple golden nuggets on us when it comes to healthcare and the interaction with our patients. And more importantly, if you didn't already stop this episode, do it now. Call your dad, call your mom. And if you don't have a mom or dad alive, then call someone else, uh, who might need a phone call and some encouragement, because, you know, we all need people. So that wraps up Digital Voices. Thank you so much for listening.

Okay, it was nice talking to you.

All right, Dad, thank you. You did great.

Thank you for listening to Digital Voices Podcast with Ed Marx. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe on your preferred streaming service and leave a rating and review. And most importantly, thanks again for listening.