HCA CEO Sam Hazen Discusses the Future of Healthcare in WNC with Community Leaders at UNC Asheville’s WNC Health Policy Initiative
Sam Hazen and Greg Lowe speak to attendees at the WNC Health Policy Initiative’s Aug 28th meeting.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On August 28th, the Western North Carolina Health Policy Initiative (WNC HPI), a program of the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness (NCCHW) at UNC Asheville, convened healthcare and community leaders from across the region for a discussion with HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen and Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe.
The meeting took place at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) and provided an opportunity for regional stakeholders to hear directly from HCA and Mission top leaders about Mission Hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve access to care, strengthen quality and patient safety, build a more stable healthcare workforce, and improve patient flow.
Hazen outlined HCA’s continued commitment to and investment in WNC and acknowledged past performance gaps at Mission Hospital. He described a three-part strategy focused on strengthening governance and accountability, addressing workforce challenges, and improving the systems and processes that help patients move through the hospital. The discussion also included HCA’s efforts to expand healthcare workforce development through educational partnerships and training programs.
"The resolution of [the CMS] process is not the end. It's the end of the beginning," said Hazen. "Our goal is to provide the best care possible for our patients...to be a great employer and place to practice medicine and to earn the confidence of this community. I know I can't come in here and say just be confident in this -- we have to earn that, and we are determined to do that, and that's what our plan is about."
Participants expressed gratitude for the dialogue as they raised questions about community trust, transparency, staffing, patient experiences and the future of Mission’s rural hospitals. Hazen acknowledged the importance of rebuilding community confidence and emphasized that it must be earned through continued discussion, transparency, and progress. He also expressed openness to additional productive ways Mission Hospital and HCA can accomplish these goals.
Aubri Rote, Director of NCCHW shared her enthusiasm for WNC HPI’s importance in the region, “The fact that HPI was called on for this important discussion really demonstrates the value this group has as a regional convener.”
“WNC HPI provides a space where leaders from across the healthcare, policy and public health landscape can come together around issues that affect the health of our region,” notes Soni Pitts, WNC HPI Project Manager. “Our goal is to facilitate meaningful dialogue, connect people and perspectives that might not otherwise come together, and help ensure that regional leaders have opportunities to engage directly on the challenges and opportunities facing Western North Carolina.”
The Aug. 28 conversation builds on that work by creating an opportunity for direct dialogue between one of the region’s largest healthcare systems and the broader community of leaders concerned with the future of healthcare in WNC. As the region navigates significant changes and challenges in its healthcare landscape, WNC HPI will continue working to connect regional leaders, elevate informed dialogue and create opportunities for collaboration around the policies and systems that shape health across the region.
To view the recording of this meeting, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kf-GYEvRO0
Disclaimer
Individual opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this video are those of the speaker(s)/presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the WNC Health Policy Initiative, its host institutions of the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA), Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) or our funders.
