Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Mattson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Registered Nurse, and began my career in Florida in the Emergency Room, but soon moved into surgery. As much as I loved the ED, the hours were difficult as a single mom I learned about the Ambulatory Surgery space from a colleague, started as a recovery nurse, and loved it. I learned everything I could.
I moved to Atlanta in 1999, and continued my career in the Ambulatory Surgery industry in progressive leadership roles, About a decade ago. I went back to school and got a second degree. I started picking up work consulting for other surgery centers needing help with regulatory or operations tasks. At the same time, I began writing a trade blog. My consulting help became a business and progressively grew. Last year, I quit my “day job” and now consult full time, and my blog articles are regularly featured in a national trade magazine.
I have partnered with two amazing women, and we continue to grow the business together. I am grateful for our partnership and all we have accomplished so far. We now have helped build several centers, and have also built an educational website, and several software tools that support our growing list of clients in their roles in surgical leadership. We are developing and supporting surgical facilities who provide great care every day, and are excited for our continued growth as a company.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heck No! It is never easy to get outside your comfort zone. Fear was a huge factor. For me, the financial uncertainty was the most difficult part. I did feel I had a bit of an upper hand so to speak from managing other businesses prior to my own and that has paid off. However, the buck stops here, and there is always that concern that you may make bad choices.
Providing service is not always easy either. Personalities, expectations and communication styles play a big part in those challenges.
When you are starting out, the work-life balance is a struggle as well. Everything always seems to take longer than expected. It definitely impacts your family.
Building infrastructure while building a client base has also been a challenge, but unless you have a lot of money on the front end, it is a necessary evil. I learn from these challenges every day however, and understand those lessons even better.
ALM Surgical Solutions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are an experienced team of surgical professionals that have a unique understanding of our clients’ needs, as we have been in their shoes. We offer innovative resources and tools that we customize for our clients to support their needs while they manage patient care and their facilities.
We are most proud of taking what we knew was needed in the market, creating the tools to support those needs and successfully making it work.
We are really proud of supporting our centers in making significant accomplishments. We pride ourselves in a collaborative team approach to our support. Our clients don’t need someone else to tell them what to do-they get plenty of that. We help them do it. We haven’t forgotten where they are and enjoy working side by side with them to getting the job done and achieving their goals. In the last two months alone, we helped several centers open, achieve licensure, certification and accreditation. The staff trust us to support them to get the job done. When we do, it feels like a home run.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve always felt that as a nurse, being a patient advocate is the most important role I have. I provide volunteer advocacy for patients when they need help with finding solutions to care concerns. My proudest moment in my career has been when I successfully helped a patient obtain their lifesaving medication for free when they could not afford them. It’s great to be able to combine my clinical, leadership and negotiating skills to help.
I should note that I surprised myself with this question. My business success has been so important to me, but upon reflection, giving back wins.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1735 Buford Hwy
Suite 215-162
Cumming, GA 30041 - Website: almss.com
- Phone: 470-207-8194
- Email: leslie@almss.com
- Other: ascrubslife.com
Image Credit:
Amber Cloy Photography
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