While president of Mercy Gilbert, Ms. Eberst oversaw construction of the hospital, which focused on providing a healing environment. She said the inspiration for the healing-inspired renovation arose from her experience witnessing her mother’s hospital recovery after emergency open heart surgery. “I would get her comfortable and positioned for sleep when the intercom would announce that a doctor was on the phone, or a nurse was wanted at the front desk. It wasn’t much longer before a loud floor cleaning machine swooped next to her patient room, startling her and causing her additional anxiety. All she needed was some sleep.”
Seeing her mother struggle to get rest, Ms. Eberst said, “That was when it hit me. If I influence anything during the construction of Mercy Gilbert, it will be the aesthetics of the hospital and the noise level in patient care areas.”
Under Ms. Eberst’s leadership, Mercy Gilbert was opened in June 2006 and quickly achieved significant accomplishments, including being named a Top 10 CHW Hospital in top quartile performance, gaining national recognition as a “healing hospital” and receiving local and national distinction as a “best place to work.”
Before joining Mercy Gilbert, Ms. Eberst served as senior vice president of clinical services and chief nurse executive at CHW’s St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernadino, Calif. During her time at St. Bernardine, she helped design the $130 million expansion project for acute-care beds and ancillary services. She also oversaw the construction of The Heart Institute of the Desert and The Heart Hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Ms. Eberst earned her MBA from the University of Redlands (Calif.). She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at California State University in San Bernardino.
Read more on notable hospital leaders:
–Hospital Leader to Know: Richard Umbdenstock of the AHA
–Hospital Leader to Know: Jeff Brickman of Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center
