That being the case, Steve Corbeil, the new CEO at HCA Midwest, is actually experiencing his second Kansas City honeymoon. The latest started on December when he assumed responsibility for leading the regional ten-hospital network, part of HCA’s national for-profit healthcare system. The first was in 1984 when he and his wife spent their honeymoon weekend in Kansas City.
Ingram’s talked with Steve Corbeil recently to ask him about his newresponsibilities, the state of healthcare regionally, and why on earth he thought a honeymoon in Kansas City was a good idea.
You’ve been on the job almost two months now. What’s your assessment of HCA Midwest and its challenges?Well, I’ve spent these last few weeks meeting the associates and management teams at our ten hospitals and other operations, and frankly, I’m more excited about HCA Midwest now than when I first arrived. We’re so well-positioned geographically, with our network of facilities in communities throughout the region, and our services, medical staffs, nurses, and other professionals offer care of such high quality, that I think we’re in excellent shape.
There are challenges faced by everyone in the healthcare system. They’re primarily public policy issues. There will need to be a solution soon to the problem of the growing number of people without health insurance. The various state plans to address this problem need to be watched carefully to determine if any of these show promise for a national solution. There’s an ongoing debate on these issues, obviously. That’s healthy and necessary.
And, like other hospital systems we are dealing with a shortage of nurses. We’re determined to be the employer of choice for nurses in this region. Of course, we think we have an advantage in our Research School of Nursing.
How do you compete effectively against high-profile academic medical centers in the region?Idon’t think it’s a question of competition. We serve different roles in the community. Obviously they’re well-equipped to perform some highly specific procedures like organ transplants, but to be honest, our facilities and medical team are as well equipped, trained, and experienced as they are to provide 99.9 percent of the healthcare services most people will ever need. Plus, I think they are, understandably, more focused on education. We’re more focused on the patient.
Describe your management style.It’s relationship driven. I try to establish meaningful and authentic relationships with the people I work with. And I try, always, to be ethical and moral in my decision-making. I really see myself as providing perspective and consultation to my managers. My goal is to provide them with what they need to succeed.
Okay, we’re immensely proud of Kansas City. But it’s not typically thought of as a honeymoon destination—no beaches, no mountains. Please explain.Well, my wife is from St. Louis and we were married there and came here after and had a lovely and absolutely wonderful honeymoon on the Plaza. We wouldn’t trade it for anything.
