Free Heart Like Mine by Maggie McGinnis Page B

wouldn’t want to let on that things weren’t going perfectly. And of course their demo would carefully skate around the areas they knew were problematic.
    Dr. Mackenzie’s eyebrows went upward again. This was getting to be a habit. “And you didn’t hear that there were any glitches? Shocker.”
    Delaney looked at him for a long moment, but his eyebrows stayed locked halfway up his forehead. Fine. She pulled out a notepad and pen. No time like the present to start recording observations, she figured. And a problematic, underutilized EMR system that had cost millions could go right to the top of today’s list.
    She scribbled a note, then pointed to his laptop. “Do you think the vendors are fully aware that things aren’t working correctly?”
    â€œYes, they’re aware. And all three of them have their installation consultants on-site, probably costing us dollars we don’t have, trying to make three systems that were never intended to work together—work together.”
    She paused, hearing the tightly controlled frustration in his voice. Another decision handed down by a disconnected executive team , it said.
    â€œThere were physicians on the vendor selection committees, you know.” She hated the defensive tone in her voice, but really? Was he accusing her office of saddling doctors with an unusable system? They weren’t the only ones who’d been involved in the purchase decisions.
    â€œI know. I was on one of them. But I bet if you went back through meeting minutes, you’d be hard-pressed to find one physician who voted to go with three separate vendors. We’ve been down that road before, and this is what always happens. That’s all I’m saying. In the end, this came down to a finance office decision.”
    â€œOnly because we were assured that the systems could work together seamlessly.”
    â€œBy the salespeople, right?”
    Delaney sighed. “Yes.”
    â€œWell”—he pointed to the piles on his desk—“in the meantime, until they figure it all out, I print.”
    â€œOkay.” She nodded, then shook her head. Time to steer the conversation back to her original goal in coming into his office in the first place.
    She took a deep breath, crossing her legs. His eyes followed her movements closely, landing squarely on her shoes. Seemed like Dr. Mackenzie had a thing for black heels. Megan would encourage Delaney to use that knowledge … as she pointed once again to Delaney’s buttons.
    She poised her pen, ready to take more notes. “So what can you tell me about Millie?”
    His eyes skated back up her body, but she couldn’t tell whether he’d even noticed they’d gone wandering. She felt suddenly warmer in the tiny office.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI just mean—I’d like to know more about her. She’s obviously a staff leader down here, and if I’m going to be here for a week, I’d love some insight into what makes her tick.”
    â€œAnd how not to tick her off?”
    Delaney laughed, and she saw his eyes go to her lips. “That, too.”
    â€œUm.” He seemed discombobulated, and she got a funny little fluttery feeling in her stomach, kind of enjoying it. “There’s only one way to get on Millie’s good side.”
    â€œAnd that is?”
    He shook his head. “You have to earn your way there. I could vouch for you from here to kingdom come, but it won’t hold water until she decides for herself what she thinks of you.”
    Delaney pictured Millie’s tight smile and stiff posture. “I think I already have a pretty good feel for what she thinks of me.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know you yet.”
    â€œDo I have a chance of convincing her I might actually be human, even though I work on the sixth floor?”
    He smiled. “Slight one. Can’t speak for the rest of the nurses, but if you