Ketul Patel, MHA, MBA, serves as Chief Executive Officer for CHI Franciscan and is Senior Vice President of Divisional Operations for CommonSpirit Health.
On April 2nd, Ketul will speak at Becker's Hospital Review 10th Annual Meeting. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place April 1-4, 2019 in Chicago.
To learn more about the conference and Ketul's session, click here.
Question: What do innovators/entrepreneurs from outside healthcare need to better understand about hospital and health system leaders?
Ketul Patel: We need partners who can be agile and innovative. Health care is a complex and highly-regulated industry, which presents unique challenges for entrepreneurs and outside business sectors. With constant evolution and change occurring, we need partners who can be nimble and adapt to the speed in which the industry flows. Above all, caring for people and ensuring their well-being is and always will be our number one priory—solutions that put our patients first are paramount.
Q: What one strategic initiative will demand the most of your time and energy in 2019?
KP: February 1, Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health officially aligned to create a new ministry, CommonSpirit Health™. This is a historical and exciting time and we are looking forward to shaping our new organization. Much of my time will be dedicated to ensuring the Pacific Northwest Division is supporting the success of our new entity. Our entire team is very proud and inspired by this unique opportunity to be a part of something bigger and make real change to the delivery of care within our communities across the nation.
Q: Can you share some praise with us about people you work with? What does greatness look like to you when it comes to your team?
KP: I feel incredibly proud and thankful to work with such a talented team. Each day I am inspired by their compassion to serve while honoring the legacy of our Sisters and strengthening our mission. As our industry continues to evolve, I’m constantly impressed by our teams’ focus to ensure our communities are receiving the highest quality and compassionate care—their dedication is unwavering and a true example of greatness.