Opinion

CEO: Pardee set to build on 2013 success

By Jay Kirby, Published: December 24, 2013

Pardee's 60th birthday year will undoubtedly go down in the annals of our community's history as one of our most challenging but successful years.

Jay KirbyBefore we reflect on our accomplishments, let's take a look at the challenges that Pardee, Henderson County's second largest employer and hospitals across our state have faced:
• Cutbacks in funding arising from federal sequestration
• Cutbacks in funding caused by the North Carolina General Assembly's failure to approve Medicaid Expansion
• The faltering start of the Affordable Care Act

While there is no denying that these new and complex financial pressures have presented all hospitals with unprecedented trials and stresses, they also have provided Pardee with opportunities to lower expenses while steadfastly fulfilling our mission of providing quality health care to our community. I applaud the efforts our team members have taken to use our resources more prudently and to find ways to save. At the end of the day, we continue to differentiate ourselves by delivering quality care and services that our competitors simply can't match.
Pardee/UNC Health Care has earned many accolades, partnerships and collaborations we want to share with the community. None of these would be possible without the tireless efforts and dedication of the more than 1,200 men and women who work alongside me every day to mend your injuries, heal your wounds and treat your illnesses. Among our 2013 triumphs:
• Our strengthened management agreement with UNC Health Care
• The opening of our Mission Pardee Health Campus in Fletcher
• Our partnerships with Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) and CarePartners
• Our ranking by Consumer Reports as the highest-rated, acute-care hospital in North Carolina for surgery. Kudos to our entire surgical team and all of our surgeons
• Our A rating for hospital safety by Leap Frog — one of only two hospitals in Western North Carolina to receive this top accolade. This is the second year in a row we earned an A
• Our impressive and lengthy list of 2013 awards from Healthgrades, the leading online resource that helps consumers evaluate and compare physicians and hospitals
• Healthgrades Excellence awards: Orthopedic Surgery; Joint Replacement and Women's Health
• National Healthgrades rankings: Top 10 percent in Nation for Joint Replacement and Top 10 percent in Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services
• Top state of North Carolina Healthgrades rankings; No. 3 for Overall Orthopedic Services; Top 10 for Joint Replacement; Top 5 for Gynecologic Surgery; No. 9 for Treatment of Stroke
• Five-Star Recipient Awards: Total Knee Replacement; Hip Fracture Treatment; Overall Orthopedic Services; Joint Replacement; Total Hip Replacement; Treatment of Stroke; Treatment of Pneumonia; Peripheral Vascular Bypass; and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Bleed
• The excellent medical care provided by our state and nationally recognized medical staff
• Our top 100 Healthstrong hospitals listing by iVantage
• An Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons affirming our excellent cancer care
• Finishing our fiscal year in the black with a 2.25 percent operating margin; a feat few hospitals across the state or nation accomplished

As we usher in 2014, there's one thing we can count on; the world of health care will be anything but static. Pardee looks forward to staying the course and continuing to do what we do best – serving our patients and community well, staying nimble while forging new partnerships, and providing a safe, supportive work environment for our employees.

Thank you for helping us fulfill our missions of caring for you and your loved ones and improving the health of our region. You make that possible by choosing Pardee for your health and wellness needs.

Jay Kirby is president and CEO of Pardee Hospital.