An Open Letter to Dr. Jim

Discussion in 'KCI' started by Former KCI Employee, Jul 10, 2010 at 8:54 AM.

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  1. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Amen
    QUOTE="Former KCI Employee, post: 3561326"]I was with KCI 16 years and recently left.
    It killed me to leave a product and company I cared so much for.
    I was one of the few "old timers" left.

    In the best years KCI treated it's employees like family..... everyone was expected to perform but when times where good everyone was treated well. This was shown in unexpected gifts sent to your home such as new computer bags or shirts. In those days you were able to treat your territory as your own business. You had stock in the business and could be rewarded for your efforts with annual earnings of $145K - $175K depending on how"your" business did.

    Your DSM and VPs honored you as an employee and wanted to help you succeed without MICRO MANAGING you. We were flown to meetings with our peers to strategize and discuss new ideas and what was working in other areas instead of the culture now of jamming things down your throat that may (or may not fit) in your area. And obsessive micro-managing from people that don't understand how wonderul our product is in helping PEOPLE.

    When Cathy took reigns everything appeared normal for the first 3 months..... Woody was in charge and had a "people and patients first" attitude.... then suddenly he was let go.
    Since then it has been a revolving door. I had 3 different VPs and 4 different managers.
    Us "old timers" where looked at like we were the problem and these new green horns were here to fix everything.

    The years it took KCI to learn, adapt and overcome so many operational and customer- patient issues and concerns were quickly being changed.... and the green horns were here to re-invent the wheel. So each new management team that came in changed things in an effort to save money and be more efficient. These changes affected our business relationships with our customers and patients each time. Customer frustrations would be voiced and we were seen as UNABLE TO ADAPT to the new way. Many customers had stated that if KCI had real competition with a product that worked that they would try it in a heartbeat. Now we see that coming true... Customers liked their local sales people and nurses... but HATE dealing with KCI corporate, the intake process and the lack of patient first attitude that has become the new norm for KCI.

    The culture today at KCI is fear and intimidation. Every employee feels that they are "next" and their job is in jeopardy. They are micro-managed to the 10th degree.
    Call on an account once but then spend time reporting it, entering it on another report, then correcting your action plan on that acount, then re-doing your quarterly goal sheet on that account..... then you boss rides wih you twice a month....and writes up another plan for you.....C'Mon!!!

    With today's culture KCI will not succeed at anything but driving more business into the hands of the competition.... then blame the local team for the lack of business. They need to SERIOUSLY get back to PATIENTS, CUSTOMERS and PEOPLE first!!!

    Your local teams are your best assets and front line people... why would you treat them so horribly???? You expect these folks to walk into accounts with a smile on their face when most of them are stressed to the max and fear their soon to be lack of a job????
    Replace them with JR sales people??? What is next Medical Assistants instead of RNs??

    The KCI board of directors need a wake up call.
    Chopping employees, programs or hiring "JR" employees is not a way to build a long term quality company that puts it's patients, customers and employees first. This will lead to a short term P&L statements and a long term disaster for a company that used to be the best it could be and valued everyone.

    Dr. Jim as a major shareholder should still care about his former company and it's reputation in the community. Rememeber those early ER days Dr Jim???? We do!![/QUOTE]
    You got that right
     

  2. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    James Leininger, the founder of KCI. He is a very busy buying politicians in Texas to keep science and real history out of textbooks.