As you are aware, your Kaweah Delta Health Care District Board of Directors works for you, the people we serve, and our patients, families, and community are at the heart of everything we do. Selecting a new Kaweah Delta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the single most important strategic deliberation of the Board this year, and is certainly of great interest to this community. Your feedback is invaluable and welcome, which is why we have kept a regular agenda item about the CEO search at our Board meetings and invited the general public to comment on the recruitment process. With that in mind, I would like to provide you with an update on the process of selecting a new CEO, as well as other District initiatives to increase community engagement.
The search as it now stands…
We have narrowed a large field of qualified candidates down to three finalists. The candidates are currently concluding the interview process and meeting with the Board of Directors, the District’s Executive Team, and the Hospital’s physician leaders. We have heard from the community that it is important that we select a CEO who knows how to run a complex health system like we have here at Kaweah Delta, who understands our community, and who can elevate our delivery of healthcare services to the next level across the District.
We expect to make a decision by September and we hope to have our new CEO in place by the end of the year. All three of these final candidates have the experience and skill to lead the District in delivering high-quality, affordable health care to this region. Additionally, we are confident that the new CEO will have the vision and focus to ensure the long-term viability of the District. Our next CEO will deeply understand that as we grow and our patients’ needs change, we must modernize, expand, and improve our facilities and services for all of you.
Moving on to other matters…
As I said earlier, your regular feedback helps us continually improve. This month we launched a process to generate ideas about how to better serve community health needs. We established a Patient Family Advisory Council, and we are currently seeking applications for three Community Advisory Committees. Each of these new committees will have its own key focus. The Community Relations Committee will seek to enhance local partnerships and build better community relationships. Our Healthcare for Today and Tomorrow Committee will provide ideas about the future health needs of the community and how to address them. Our Hospital of the Future Committee will study facilities and work with Kaweah Delta staff on a plan to meet the community’s future healthcare facility needs.
We do not expect applicants to have previous leadership experience – our greatest interest is that applicants are committed to building a partnership with Kaweah Delta to better serve the community at large. It is also important to us that these Community Advisory Committees reflect the diverse demographics of the region. Each committee will be comprised of up to 20 adult community members, with Kaweah Delta employees acting as administrative and technical support. These will be true working committees and members will be asked to attend monthly meetings and actively engage in the committee deliberations.
Individuals interested in being considered can get more information and an application form (available in English and Spanish) at www.kaweahdelta.org/committee, by emailing ourhospital@kdhcd.org or by calling (559) 624-2359. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on August 31, 2017. Kaweah Delta will review all applications and anticipates announcing committee members in mid-September.
I am proud to be a part of the strong history we have in delivering the Valley’s highest levels of care for our community. As an elected Board of Directors, we also know that despite our history of success, we cannot lose sight of the future. With the selection of our next CEO, and the establishment of these Community Advisory Committees, we hope to become even more effective at listening to our community and finding new ways to meet your health needs today and into the future. We are committed to supporting a culture that delivers a personal, professional and compassionate healthcare experience for every patient, every time.
Carl Anderson is President of the Kaweah Delta Health Care District Board of Directors.