By John Amos, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yavapai Regional Medical Center
Friends recently showed me photos of a garden their children had planted as a summer project. In the first photo, small bunches of broccoli sprouted strong and healthy. This was planted in spring, my friend explained.
He swiped to the next photo for a view of the entire garden. Next, he zoomed in to show me rows of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and watermelon. Garden markers staked in the dirt showed where seeds were planted. The tomatoes and peppers already looked like a promising crop.
The photos of that garden came to mind as I began writing this article about Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) vision for the future. They reminded me of two important points: First, a garden is bigger than any single plant and second, a garden grows in stages, not in unison.
A Bold Vision and a Strong Leadership Team
The same is true for an organization’s vision for the future. The best visions are bold, inspiring, clear, and bound by time. They set a direction for planning that is rolled out over five to seven years. My vision for YRMC is a community in which all people achieve their full potential for health and wellness. The strategies that will make this vision a reality depend on:
- Understanding, listening to, and addressing our community’s health needs.
- Continuing to provide leading edge, technologically advanced and comprehensive healthcare programs and services.
- Focusing on programs and services that promote healthy living and wellness.
- Fortifying our strong relationships with our community partners, patients, medical staff, employees, and volunteers.
- Continuing to act as good financial stewards and effective planners for YRMC’s future.
- Collaborating as a leadership team to make YRMC’s future vision a reality.
While all of these are important to achieving our vision for YRMC, I am grateful for the support of an extraordinary leadership team: YRMC’s Administrative Council (AdCo) and our Board of Directors.
A State-of-the-Art Medical and Wellness Campus
In the coming months, you’ll hear from several AdCo members who will focus on aspects of the plan to achieve our vision. Our first topic will feature the construction that is beginning at YRMC West in Prescott. Our goal is to evolve YRMC West into a state-of-the-art medical and wellness campus. The campus will feature YRMC West and will include a new health center to support prevention and wellness.
The new health center on the campus of YRMC West will be an ideal home for primary care and specialty medical practices that need to be close to the services of YRMC West. Our new state-of-the-art health center in many ways will be the hub of YRMC’s evolving focus on health and wellness. It will also be home to YRMC’s Preventive Medicine and Wellness program (Pendleton Center), our Physical Rehabilitation Services and other services that help people manage their health and prevent illness.
The Evolution of Growth
Our evolution to a medical and wellness campus, like a garden, will happen in stages. Over the coming years we will also add inpatient hospital beds and explore valuable specialty services.
As you would expect, our modern medical and wellness campus will also feature amenities that increase convenience for the people we serve. For example, the health center’s new multi-level parking structure – a welcome and necessary addition – will provide people easy access to the services they need.
Ready for the Future
As we move forward, I am confident that YRMC is well positioned to fulfill our vision. As a non-profit, community-based healthcare system, YRMC has never relied on property tax dollars for operating expenses or expansion projects. In fact, YRMC’s excellent financial health has earned us an A level bond rating. This upgrade was accomplished thanks to the entire YRMC family – our medical staff, employees and volunteers. Even more impressive, it happened as other community-based hospitals are facing uncertain financial times.
As President and CEO, I am constantly scanning the horizon to ensure I’m steering YRMC to the best possible future. With the guidance of an outstanding leadership team and your continued involvement and support, I look forward to our vision blossoming into reality.