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VA Strategic Plan Brings Renewed

Profiles IN Focus on Veterans

LEADERSHIP announced the release of its 2018-2025 Strategic
The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center has
Plan. The medical center’s vision - We earn our
Veterans' trust by consistently delivering compassion-
BROWARD HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER ate and quality care – is in line with its renewed focus
on putting Veterans first.
The plan outlines six detailed priorities to be imple-
Thomas Kester, RN, MSN, DNP, CNOR mented over the short and long term. The medical

CNO center cultivated the plan with the help of a diverse
team and feedback from Veterans, Veteran Service
Thomas Kester, RN, MSN, DNP, CNOR, is Organizations and other stakeholders.
the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Broward The priorities from the Strategic Plan include:
Health Medical Center. As CNO, Kester is Priority 1: Provide excellence in care throughout
responsible for providing nursing and clinical the continuum of the Veteran’s life.
leadership and ensuring that clinical staff Priority 2: Develop a research program, cultivate Donna Katen-Bahensky
needs are met. academic partnerships to grow residencies.
Kester has been at Broward Health since Priority 3: Become a center of excellence in care coordination.
2010, serving most recently as CNO/COO at Priority 4: Commit to delivering exceptional care to our critical areas of need.
Broward Health Imperial Point and previously Priority 5: Advance our healthcare delivery system through innovation and adop-
as the hospital’s regional director of surgical tion of technology.
services. Prior to that, he was manager of sur- Priority 6: Be recognized and perceived as a best place to work.
gical services at Holy Cross Hospital for four “Our strategic plan was developed through careful examination of our current oper-
years. ations, evaluation of the regional health care market and national trends in health
Kester gives back to the community. He serves on the Board of Directors care, and consideration of feedback provided from our stakeholders,” said Medical
of the Nursing Consortium of South Florida, is a past President of the Center Director Donna Katen-Bahensky. “In line with the Veterans Health
Broward Chapter of AORN and a Former Chair of the Sheridan Technical Administration Strategic Plan, our plan provides direction and aspiration for our
Institute Advisory Board. future to ensure we provide the best care possible for Veterans.”
Kester holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Healthcare Systems So far the medical center has begun implementing several actions to coincide with
Leadership from Chamberlain College of Nursing. He also has a Master of the Strategic Plan’s priorities to include incorporation of mandatory all staff customer
Science in Nursing with a concentration in nursing education from the service training; activation of a walk-in clinic; establishing a partnership with Palm
University of Phoenix, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Beach County’s Legal Aid Society to assist Veterans; expanding academic affiliations
University of North Carolina. with Florida Atlantic University; becoming a Design Site for the VA’s Whole Health
program; and establishing a partnership with the Area Agency on Aging to provide
community resources for elderly Veterans.

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24 September 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News