It’s been about a year since Kerry Heinrich, JD, officially became chief executive officer (CEO) of Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Much has happened in that short time, including the kick-off for “Vision 2020: The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow,” separate licensure for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, major changes set in motion by the Affordable Care Act, and a host of other events and issues.
Despite the complexity of the organization, Heinrich made his entire presentation in less than an hour and a half. A number of leaders and other interested individuals were on hand, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Medical Center’s lobby-level amphitheater.
Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) comprises the adult hospital, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, LLUMC – East Campus, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, LLUMC – Murrieta, Loma Linda University Surgical Hospital, and a number of other entities.
The CEO began with a financial report, stressing that the organization is doing well financially but needs to ramp up revenues as it faces a billion-dollar-plus building project in the next few years. Heinrich emphasized that financial stability and predictability will be key as the Medical Center seeks major funding for the new adult and children’s towers.
He referenced Project NOWW — an acronym for New Outstanding Ways to Work — as a major way the Medical Center is improving the quality of patient care and finding ways to be more efficient and cost-effective.
The Affordable Care Act has required health care facilities across the nation to retool their reimbursement mechanisms and their strategic alliances.
Loma Linda University Medical Center is working to strengthen and streamline its relationships with such organizations as the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), the county hospitals — Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (San Bernardino County) and Riverside University Medical Center (Riverside County), Epic Management (a management services organization), and other important health care providers in the region.
The Medical Center is also working with IEHP on the redesign of California Children’s Services (CCS). At present, the state is studying ways to combine the structures of managed Medi-Cal with the CCS program to better address the concept of whole-child care.
Heinrich took time to thank the staff and administrators in a number of areas for their outstanding performance. He especially thanked those involved in the separate licensing and accreditation of the Children’s Hospital, pointing out that the process, which can take months, was accomplished in just five days.
He thanked the staff and leadership of both the Loma Linda University International Heart Institute and Loma Linda University Cancer Center for meeting major goals and milestones during 2015. He also recognized the Loma Linda University Transplantation Institute for achieving remarkable success in liver, kidney, pancreas and heart transplants.
Heinrich ended by giving an opportunity for questions and suggestions. Following some brief discussions, he concluded his State of the Medical Center address, which was greeted by applause.
“We have major opportunities,” Heinrich emphasized. “Our challenges motivate us to enhance our quality of care, our efficiency and our innovation. Our successes encourage us to keep building on what we’re doing well.”