Alan Iftiniuk serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at French Hospital Medical Center, Dignity Health.
Alan will serve on the panel "What Projects to Invest in Today and How to Identify Future Revenue Sources" at Becker's Hospital Review 12th 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 in Chicago from April 25-28, 2022.
To learn more about the conference and Alan's session, click here.
Question: What will the lasting legacy of COVID-19 be on the healthcare system?
Alan Iftiniuk: Throughout the pandemic, French Hospital Medical Center implemented a broad range of safety measures to provide essential health care services to our communities, including those battling life-threatening COVID-19 infections. During this time, the incredible dedication of our leadership team, physicians, nurses and staff have positioned us as the local leaders in health care, and we intend to continue that momentum. During the pandemic, we were extraordinarily transparent with our patients and communities, and through that, we strengthened the trust from our community and gained partnerships that will solidify our trajectory.
This year, our primary focus is ensuring the health and well-being of our employees, and the communities we serve. In our facility, and across the nation, COVID surges limited some hospital operations, and created hesitation for those in need of routine screenings and care. We understand our incredible responsibility to our community, and we will continue our outreach to ensure patients receive quality care in a safe environment.
We are proud of the doctors, health care professionals, staff members, and volunteers who continue to dedicate themselves to providing exceptional medical care in this time of great need.
Q: What technologies and innovations are you most excited about in healthcare right now?
AI: French Hospital continues its pledge to remain at the forefront of health care, and we are excited about our vision for the future of our facility. In the coming months, our campus will undergo a groundbreaking which will serve as the catalyst for Your New French Hospital, a monumental transformation which will revolutionize our hospital campus and advance health care in San Luis Obispo County.
This incredible undertaking will transcend the facility into the hospital of the future, far exceeding the needs and expectations of our growing community through advanced technologies, highly skilled personnel, and a new state-of-the art facility. Once complete, French Hospital Medical Center’s innovative campus will set the standard for health care in our community.
Q: What will the lasting legacy of COVID-19 be on the healthcare system?
AI: In all of my years of hospital leadership, I have never been faced with anything like the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen too many people succumb to this disease. We have seen firsthand the devastating impacts that it has on those that do survive. For the past two years, we have served as both health care professionals and family members to the very sickest of patients. Despite the difficulty, the legacy that I will reflect on in the wake of the COVID-10 pandemic will be the incredible determination and resiliency that the team at French Hospital Medical Center demonstrated during the greatest health care crisis of our time.
At the onset of the pandemic, because of our extensive training and preparation, we were was able to quickly adapt in a manner that maintained very high levels of safety for our staff and patients. I am incredibly proud of our team, as they were prepared and ready to care for patients, and were quick to collaborate with our county public health department, office of emergency services, and local organizations to prepare for potential surges.
The physical and mental toll this pandemic has taken on our staff is apparent, but they have undoubtedly risen to the challenge and put the well-being of others first. I think each of us have learned a great deal during the past two years, and the strength and perseverance I have witnessed is immeasurable. I would trust that their lasting legacy as health care providers would be a sense of personal empowerment and appreciation knowing that they have made such a great impact in the lives of others.