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Robert V. Stanek
President and CEO |
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April 2010
It was an offer that changed my life forever.
Dan Russell, president of the nation’s newest Catholic health care system – Catholic Health East – was looking for an individual to lead the Mid-Atlantic division of his new organization. I was serving as president of Mercy Health System of Western New York, and I had devoted much of the last couple of years in supporting the formation of Catholic Health System. I had come to truly appreciate the value of a health system, and the opportunity to become part of one of the nation’s newest and largest Catholic health systems represented an opportunity to serve that I could not refuse. In addition, it also gave me the opportunity to “come home” to Pennsylvania.
Little did I know that, five years after that call, I would be selected to succeed Dan as president and chief executive officer of Catholic Health East. Since 2003, it has been my privilege and honor to work with all of you to help meet the challenges of providing quality, accessible health care to all who seek our aid…and to truly live a dream.
And, indeed, it has been a wonderful dream…in spite of incredible challenges. Reimbursement pressures from government and private payors continue to mount. The costs of pharmaceuticals, life-saving devices, and medical technology—all required to provide our patients with the best care possible—continue to rise at a dizzying pace. There is a relentless need to find ways to constantly improve quality and patient safety. While the passage of a landmark health care reform bill promises to improve access to care for millions of uninsured residents, our health care ministry is still faced with the conundrum of having to do more…with less.
Despite all of the challenges…we all chose to serve in health care because we care for people. Whether you are at the bedside or the business office…the board room or the boiler room…each of you contributes every day to making a better world through your relationships with our patients, residents, and families…and with each other.
One of my favorite Chinese proverbs notes “If you want one year of prosperity – grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity – grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity – grow people.” I look around our ministry and am so proud of the efforts made by so many to focus on people-building initiatives such as leadership and professional development, and Values in Practice. And our ministry formation activities, led by our Institute for Excellence in Ministry, have helped hundreds of CHE leaders to further develop their understanding of our traditions and enhance their competencies so that they are well prepared to fulfill the increasing responsibilities entrusted to them by our Sponsors and Founders.
Our commitment to people has strengthened our health system. With the input, support and involvement of people from throughout our ministry, we have developed strategies, initiatives, programs and services that have had far-reaching, beneficial effects on our local ministries and those who they serve. By building enterprise-wide services in supply chain, information services, and financial services, we have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of these functions…bringing enhanced services and tangible savings to our ministries.
Several years ago, our board members, Sponsors, and colleagues collaborated to develop and introduce Vision 2017, our health care delivery model for the future. This foundational work envisioned a person-centered model that provides coordinated, integrated care management across the continuum of care. It is completely in synch with where we find ourselves in 2010; the work completed by so many individuals to create this model around which to build our local and regional goals and strategies has positions our ministry well for the future.
More recently, clinicians and leaders throughout our CHE ministries have collaborated on our ACT (Advancing Clinical Transformation) initiative, which focuses on identifying, analyzing and implementing clinical transformation opportunities that result in superb outcomes and enhance quality and patient safety across the system. After a little more than one year, our colleagues have helped to transform hospital case management through the MIDAS+ implementation, and have successfully lowered the incidence of several hospital-acquired conditions. And our system-wide efforts to introduce electronic health records promises to revolutionize the way that medical care is delivered in the future.
Looking back on my seven years as CEO, I am immensely proud of the lifesaving and life-sustaining work accomplished throughout our ministries every day, made possible by the tens of thousands of outstanding health care colleagues who comprise our acute and long term care facilities, assisted living and continuing care facilities, behavioral health and rehabilitation facilities, home health and hospice agencies, and managed care programs. And I am humbled by the dedication and energy and compassion and ideas that every single colleague brings to their personal ministry each day.
I have been privileged to serve alongside many special people over the years. And I am thankful that one of these individuals - Judy Persichilli – was selected to succeed me as president and CEO. Judy has a long history of serving CHE well at the local RHC as well as the system office level, and I know that I leave CHE in very capable hands.
As I mentioned earlier, the offer to join CHE really did change my life. But I have to say - in still meaningful ways - the offer to interact with so many of you over the years has in some way changed my life, too. Every interaction I have had with you has touched me in some way, and I am thankful for your support, your collegiality…and, most of all, your commitment to our Mission, Vision and Core Values. And yes, like every wonderful dream, we awaken in time, and the dream ends…but in this case, the memory of it is neverending.
After all, it’s not just a slogan. Together, we really are so much more.
Keep up the great work of being a transforming, healing presence in the communities we are privileged to serve. God bless you all.
Sincerely yours,
Robert V. Stanek
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Catholic Health East
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