Melisa Adkins, Chief Executive Officer, UofL Health - Mary & Elizabeth Hospital joins the podcast to discuss her career, the most urgent health needs among the patient population served by UofL Health, what needs require the greatest collaboration with the surrounding Louisville community, and more!
Summary
UofL Health CEO Discusses Urgent Health Needs and Community Collaboration
The Importance of Nurses and Mental Health
Melisa Adkins, Chief Executive Officer of UofL Health - Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, recently joined the Becker's Healthcare Podcast to discuss her career and the most urgent health needs among the patient population served by UofL Health. Adkins emphasized the integral role of nurses in providing quality care, and how the pandemic has highlighted the need for more access to mental health care.
Hospitals face challenges in the pandemic
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the cost of labor for many hospitals, particularly rural community hospitals, resulting in closures or cutbacks in services. This has led to more gaps and inequities in healthcare. However, Adkins noted that hospitals have had to be creative and innovative to overcome these challenges. Examples include creating internal float pools, offering flexible shifts for workers, working with international staffing agencies, and offering tuition programs for employees. It's important to celebrate the dedication and hard work of healthcare workers during this difficult time.
Collaboration with the community
Adkins stressed the importance of collaboration with the surrounding community, particularly in addressing the urgent health needs of underserved populations in Louisville. For example, UofL Health and the city of Louisville have partnered to donate 8.25 million dollars towards a project that will provide access to prenatal care and birthing centers in underserved areas. Additionally, UofL Health is putting in a 33-bed medical behavioral health unit to provide essential care for patients who cannot receive traditional behavioral health services. Adkins acknowledges that patient behavior still hasn't returned to pre-pandemic norms but continues to promote preventative medicine and routine screenings to keep communities healthy.
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 05/12/2023 and can be listened here.
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