Christopher Bjornberg, Chief Executive Officer at Mayers Memorial Healthcare District, joins the podcast to discuss his background & what made him decide to work for a critical access hospital, different challenges rural healthcare is facing, what effective healthcare leader needs to be successful in the next 2-3 years, and more.
Summary
Christopher Bjornberg Discusses Rural Healthcare Challenges
Christopher Bjornberg's Background
Christopher Bjornberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Mayers Memorial Healthcare District, recently joined a podcast to discuss his background and what made him decide to work for a critical access hospital. He has been in healthcare administration for 18 years and 10 of those as a hospital executive.
Challenges Facing Rural Healthcare
Bjornberg has been focusing on two major issues- the potential implementation of a $25 minimum wage for healthcare and the 2030 seismic initiative, which looks to ensure buildings can withstand earthquakes in California. To combat these issues, he is looking at opportunities to bring services to his area that make sense, working with the California Hospital Association and ACHD to have their voices heard, and partnering with other rural hospitals to offset costs. All these measures are aimed at ensuring patients can receive quality healthcare services in rural areas.
Effective Healthcare Leadership
Healthcare leaders must remain flexible and be able to communicate effectively in order to ensure the stability and success of their organizations. They need to be able to adapt to changing circumstances quickly and have tough conversations when necessary. It is also important for them to understand that not everyone wants to go to the hospital or doctor's office, but that Covid has made many people aware of the importance of healthcare.
The Way Forward
Bjornberg's efforts to combat the challenges affecting rural healthcare are commendable. By partnering with other rural hospitals and working with the relevant associations, he is ensuring that his district can offer quality healthcare services. Effective healthcare leaders should follow in his footsteps and maintain flexibility, adaptability and strong communication to ensure the success of their healthcare organizations.
Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com
This episode aired on 03/07/2023 and can be listened here.