CEO Update February 2014

Rural hospitals are facing economic challenges throughout our state, and being able to work closely with a community like Grenada to stabilize their health system is a great opportunity.  The location of UMMC Grenada will make it especially important as we look to engage some of the underserved populations in the northern third of the state, as well as ensure we are the preferred tertiary and quaternary provider for those communities as well.

Partnerships of this type are possible because the UMMC brand is trending upward throughout Mississippi.  That trend is the direct result of your hard work.  Each patient that comes to a UMMC facility for care leaves with a story.  That story is about the care they received, but more importantly, that story will be about the caregivers they encounter.  Patients recognize compassionate caregivers; they also recognize when someone is callous.  Please take every opportunity to demonstrate our compassion for the patients you encounter.  Every time you show your care for a patient, a visitor, a family member, you are making UMMC stronger.  You are building our reputation throughout the state.  Our recent growth speaks to your efforts.  For that, I thank you.

You are UMMC, and I am extremely grateful to lead the adult health services of such a phenomenal organization.  There will be challenges to come as value becomes ever more important in our industry.  I am confident with the talent I see at UMMC we will be up to those challenges.