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Cover Story: Lincoln Mendez Reflects on

Baptist Health-Boca Raton Merger and Looks Ahead

Continued from page 1 Regional, you really have to spend time ting both of the organizations on the “Thanks to the philanthropic support
facility, I was able to witness firsthand with the board of directors, hospital staff same IT platform over the next 18 of the Schmidt Family Foundation, the
some of the challenges in transitioning and medical staff in order to get a better months which will be a significant new 972 space Schmidt Family Parking
into a new organization,” recalls Mendez. understanding of the culture that has undertaking and require additional Garage will open to the public in late
“I felt that this experience I had gained existed there for many years,” says resources to accomplish.” January and provide the community with
during that time would be beneficial to Mendez. “In my experience, I was very Looking ahead, Mendez says that much needed parking on the medical
the hospital and medical staff at Boca happy that both organizations share the Baptist Health will continue to build on campus,” he says.
Regional.” same culture of providing excellent care, the excellent Centers of Excellence that If you know the history of Boca Raton
That was one of the many reasons why always striving to get better, a commit- had already been established at Boca Regional Hospital, Mendez says, you will
Mendez wanted to become CEO. He also ment to technological advances, a family Regional. This facility will work closely have a much better appreciation of the
enjoys working on new construction type of environment and an overall with the other Baptist Health facilities in bond that has existed between the hospi-
projects as well as facility renovations deeply rooted bond with the communi- Palm Beach County (Bethesda Hospital tal and the community since inception.
which Baptist Health had committed to ty.” East, Bethesda Hospital West and the “As a result of a tragic situation, the
provide over $600 million dollars toward The primary challenges of this merger Baptist Outpatient Services) in order to community came together and made the
over the next 10 years. involves what you would normally develop a regional approach to the commitment to build a community hos-
“I also felt that my previous experience expect when two different organizations healthcare services Baptist Health is pro- pital in Boca Raton,” he says.
in this area would be beneficial for Boca come together, according to Mendez. viding in the county. “Those dreams were realized in 1967
Regional,” says Mendez. “Lastly, my fam- “Integrating the 2,800-plus Boca “In addition, Baptist Health has made a with the opening of the hospital that
ily has always maintained residency in Regional into the same systems, benefits significant financial commitment to Boca came through volunteer efforts and com-
Broward County and our desire was to and policies into an organization with Regional in order to build a new nine munity donations that were being direct-
ultimately relocate to the Palm Beach more than 23,000 employees can have its story Patient Tower with private rooms, a ed by the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service
County area. I believe all of these factors challenges, but we have been progressing new Medical Office Building, a new League. From the efforts of that organiza-
played a key role in my decision to systematically over the past six months,” Ambulatory Surgery Center, and numer- tion, which still plays a major role at the
accept the role of CEO at Boca Regional he explains. “We also started on day ous upgrades to the existing facility in hospital to this day, this community hos-
while still working for an organization one without having a contract with order to ensure that Boca Regional con- pital has developed into a Regional
which I have admired over the past 24 United Health Care which had historical- tinues to provide excellent health care Medical Center providing excellent care
years.” ly represented approximately 18% of the services to this community for many to our community. Boca Raton Regional
While Boca became a part of Baptist hospital volume. Although we were able years to come,” adds Mendez. Hospital will always have a major impact
Health last summer, the two philoso- to sign a new agreement with United The 10-year Master Facility Plan is in our community.”
phies of each organization are not that Health on December 1, 2019, this created currently underway and Mendez says
much different from each other. some challenges for the community and that they are expecting the first phase of For more information,
“Although we already knew about the medical staff during the first few months. that plan to be completed by the end of visit www.baptisthealth.net.
excellent clinical reputation of Boca Another important challenge will be get- January.

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South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com February 2020 31