When I think of the problems in healthcare, I am often reminded of the sage advice from my partner, Fred Schoonmaker, when I first entered practice. He said the most important things for a successful practice of medicine are ability, amiability, and availability but not in that order. If you are not available, none of the rest matters. While not original, it was the first time I had heard this adage. It applied to a two-man practice in Denver, but it is also critical for large healthcare organizations and for healthcare delivery overall. Availability applies to the providers of healthcare, but from the perspective of the patient, the corollary is accessibility. Amazing medical therapies have been developed, but if they are not being applied to patients, they are worthless.