PeaceHealth Systems Chief Operating Officer Beth O’Brien was the featured guest at this morning’s summer 2015 Boardroom Breakfast, held at the Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks. Here are 10 things we learned about the Vancouver-based health system during the discussion:
1. Before joining PeaceHealth, Beth served as senior vice president and group executive officer for Catholic Health Initiatives.
2. O’Brien said that PeaceHealth is not interested in being acquired by another healthcare provider, but the organization is looking for new partnerships with others.
3. When asked about the leadership changes at PeaceHealth, O’Brien said that the organization is focused on a new, team-oriented and connected health care model. This new focus requires different skill sets.
4. O’Brien expects PeaceHealth to name a new chief executive officer later this summer.
5. Due to changes in the way that care is paid for, O’Brien said it’s important for PeaceHealth to have less variation in how care is delivered and to be more efficient. She said the industry’s pricing problem must be figured out in the next three years.
6. While PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is actively involved in the community, O’Brien said it is important that PeaceHealth Systems does more to be involved.
7. Customer service is key. O’Brien said that PeaceHealth must be mindful of the experience from both the care giver and patient perspective. “We have work to do in understanding what customer service really means… Every encounter we have we take a measure.”
8. On the subject of recruiting doctors to this area, O’Brien said, “Doctors are interested in practicing here because this is a great part of the country to live in.”
9. O’Brien would like to see PeaceHealth expand its presence in behavioral health. “We want to be highly reliable in that environment, but it will take partnerships to do that,” she said.
10. The medical industry is witnessing an explosion of interest from entrepreneurs. O’Brien said this makes today one of the most exciting times in health care.
Join us for our next Boardroom Breakfast event on Wednesday September 2, 2015.
