Page 13 - May 2019 with HCHeroes

Cover Story: Leadership Roundtable: Broward Health Executives

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patients and physicians to help them Broward County, presents its own chal- goals, and finally, and this is the most
Gino Santorio, President/CEO, Broward select the best value for care,” he says. lenges. Broward Health hospitals are critical component, they need to be will-
Health. “I’ve been very direct that no “It’s complex, but Alan, Alex and I are treating some of the most critical and ing to do the work.
matter what, we will do the right thing. excited about the challenges.” complex medical cases. “I know Alan, Alex and I have put in
Our success is contingent upon charac- Santorio, Goldsmith and Fernandez all “I could give a hundred reasons why our time and punched our dance ticket,
ter, and I’m proud to be surrounded by came to Broward Health knowing there I’m inspired to come to work each day,” so to speak. We worked our way up
8,000-plus employees who have would be unique opportunities to says Santorio. “But it ultimately boils through lower level positions. We put in
remained committed to acting in the best rebuild a health system that was in need down to patient care. For example, if you the hours and were willing to go where
interests of our patients and communi- of strong management, impeccable show up to a Broward Health trauma other people weren't. We took risks. That
ty.” ethics and a commitment to ensure high center with any vitals, there's a 98 per- is something people need to decide if
Since Santorio was named the perma- quality care for all those served. cent chance that you're going to survive. they’re willing to do.”
nent CEO in December 2018 and Alan Goldsmith was recruited by a former Those kind of survival rates are unprece- “You need to be open to accepting
Goldsmith, former Broward Health CFO, Broward Health CEO. Having started his dented, and that’s just one sample of the additional responsibilities,” adds
was named Executive Vice career as an assistant in a human spectacular care we regularly provide for Fernandez. “It’s not always going to be
President/CAO and Alex Fernandez resources department, he quickly moved our patients.” easy, because you're going to have your
named the Senior Vice President/CFO in his way up the ranks and across organi- “We are caring for those who can’t care current workload, plus additional
January 2019, this leadership – with the zations until joining Broward Health as for themselves,” says Fernandez. “From responsibilities. But reaching your career
support of the North Broward Hospital CFO in 2017. hospitals and clinical care to community aspirations will be worth the effort.”
District Board of Commissioners – has “I knew they were in the middle of a outreach, we are filling a void. Without Most importantly, Broward Health’s
hired a new Individual Review turnaround,” he says. “I live in Broward Broward Health, there are a number of new leadership continued to stress the
Organization (IRO), renegotiated numer- County and wanted to help be part of residents in Broward County who would importance of doing the right thing.
ous contracts for operational efficiency Broward Health’s change.” not have medical care. As a leader, the “Treat people at all levels fairly,” says
and been proactive in engaging elected Goldsmith quickly recruited Santorio, significance of that drives you.” Fernandez. “Regardless of your role, that
state officials for Critical Care Funding. who says he was familiar with the turn- The magnitude of this work might goes a long way. Be accountable and help
Santorio, Goldsmith and Fernandez around environment Broward Health intimidate others, but for Goldsmith, grow the people around you.”
consider these types of complexities that was facing, having just come from a sim- there’s a simple reason they are willing to “Listen to people, understand expecta-
are pressuring healthcare to now be the ilar environment. put in the hours they do: Broward Health tions and act with integrity,” says
industry norm. Managing these issues “At that point in my career, I decided is this leadership team’s passion. Goldsmith. “When you know in your
demands a broader perspective than after speaking to Alan that I could help “If you don't love what you're doing,” bones that you and your organization
what once may have been required of the organization and it was something I he says, “then you should reconsider have acted in good faith, you will ulti-
leadership. thought I would like to do,” Santorio what you're doing.” mately succeed.”
“The new model of a healthcare CFO notes, also joining Broward Health in Santorio and Fernandez also cautioned “I say this all the time,” says Santorio,
is certainly different,” says Fernandez. 2017 as the COO. future healthcare leaders to carefully agreeing with Goldsmith. “Do the right
“No longer does the CFO focus only on While Fernandez arrived at Broward consider their career development strate- thing. It sounds easy, but it can be chal-
finance. Today’s healthcare leader has to Health under different circumstances, he gies. lenging. I promise you that if you do the
be diverse and able to talk on all different has been no less committed to fortifying “Young professionals need to deter- right thing, you’ll never go wrong.”
levels and across skill sets. We all cross the health system. He started as a staff mine what they want long term,”
over to each other’s lanes, and it works accountant with a hospital in Palm Beach Santorio says. “They need to identify dif- For more information,
well.” County and ultimately worked his way ferent avenues to achieve their career visit www.browardhealth.org.
“I would even go as far as saying that up to the role of COO, but he missed
the healthcare system was much differ- finance.
ent less than five years ago,” says “There was a CFO position open at
Goldsmith. “The constant change – and Broward Health Medical Center,” he
change is a guarantee in healthcare – is explains. “I researched the hospital and
going to be rapid. Your ability to be nim- its service lines, as well as the tertiary
ble and think quickly to get ahead of the component of the hospital. I applied for “ You can’t separate the clinical
curve is essential.” the role and was offered the job. It was and the fi nancial – not anymore.”
Santorio added that healthcare leaders the best decision I’ve made in my career
must also now work with a greater num- thus far.”
ber of players. Santorio and Goldsmith share similar People who know Healthcare, know BDO.
“A typical day for me can include views, noting that while demanding, it’s
strategizing our payer model with man- an exciting time to lead Broward Health
aged care partners, then educating for many reasons. Steering a special tax-
Tallahassee on funding perspectives, ing district, which essentially means the
before counseling staff on organizational system is owned by the taxpayers of
matters and communicating with
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