Percival Kane Jr. began serving as senior vice president and chief of operations at Washington, D.C.-based Children’s National Hospital in September, and he brought more than 20 years of healthcare operations experience to his role.
Prior to joining Children’s National, he served as COO of Beachwood, Ohio-based University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center since 2022. His other previous roles include COO of Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, Ohio; various roles at Hammond, La.-based North Oaks Health system, including chief ambulatory officer; and regional director at Austin (Texas) Regional Clinic.
Mr. Kane told Becker’s that his experiences across different healthcare settings and geographies have given him a broad perspective on how organizations approach similar challenges in different ways.
He said his new role also allows him to apply that background — spanning process improvement, financial turnarounds, construction projects, service line development and pediatrics in an academic setting.
“This one role gives me an opportunity to culminate all of my career into one [position],” Mr. Kane said.
He assumes the role as healthcare organizations nationwide face financial headwinds, including tight margins and looming Medicaid funding cuts.
Amid this backdrop, he said Children’s National is thinking strategically in terms of care delivery.
“We’re focusing on being more nimble, looking at our staffing models,” Mr. Kane said. “Making sure we’re as productive as possible with the resources we have. The days of abundance are no longer part of our story, so we [must] be more calculated in our approach.”
He said this means that in his new role, he is focused on ensuring Children’s National is operating efficiently — evaluating the types of patients the hospital is seeing, the services it’s offering, and where and when Children’s National is delivering that care.
“We want to be accessible to our communities — not just within the traditional hospital setting but also by being present in the community,” Mr. Kane added. “That way, families know we’re a true partner. I believe all of these efforts combined will help us succeed in today’s evolving healthcare environment.”
He said his overall vision is to “help us make smart decisions — grow in the right areas, expand the right services, and offer those services efficiently.”
Mr. Kane also shared advice for other operations leaders serving in or stepping into similar roles at healthcare organizations.
“In roles like ours, you really have to do a lot of fact-finding. Ask questions. Try to understand how things got to where they are today,” he said.
“I’m just over three weeks into this role, and I’ve taken the approach of trying to understand the story — whether it’s operational decisions, financial structures or cultural dynamics. Once I have that understanding, I’ll be in a better position to make informed decisions to support our mission and enhance the services we provide.”
He also recommends asking thoughtful questions and collaborating. For example, he’s reaching out to peers across the greater Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region to better understand the market.
“I think those things will help me — and they’d help anyone in a similar position,” he said. “But I’ll also say this: It’s a great time to be in healthcare.
“I’ve always loved what I do. Not everyone shares that sentiment, but if you enjoy being challenged and working on something bigger than yourself, then being a COO at a world-renowned pediatric institution is an incredible place to be.
“To say I’m proud is a gross understatement.”
