- There's a small circle of people who truly
- understand what it takes to lead a health
- system right now. The decisions are enormous.
- The variables are constantly shifting, and the stakes
- of getting a call wrong don't stay contained.
- That's not a complaint. It's a structural reality.
- And it's why the most effective c suite
- leaders are deliberate about where they go to
- pressure test their thinking.
- Becker's fourteenth annual CEO and CFO roundtable
- brings together more than 1,500
- executive level attendees
- and nearly 400 speakers for four days built
- around growth, financial sustainability,
- workforce strategy, and the leadership questions that don't
- have easy answers.
- Join us November second through the fifth in
- Chicago.
- For the agenda and event details,
- visit beckershospitalreview.com
- and click on the events tab in the
- upper right.
- This is Laura Dierdahl with the Becker's Healthcare
- podcast. I'm thrilled today to be joined by
- Will Davis, president of the Illinois region at
- Deaconess, Illinois.
- Will, it's a pleasure to have you on
- the podcast today. Hey. Good afternoon, Laura. It
- is a pleasure to be with you all,
- this afternoon on this this beautiful July 23.
- And,
- weather is great, and that's not always the
- case in, in middle of July. Right? So
- we're taking it as a win.
- Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, always,
- wanna get some sunshine in and and monthly,
- some of the things have settled, so we're
- in a good good place.
- Excellent. Well, I'm excited for our conversation. I
- know you're always, so forthcoming and candid about
- everything that's going on, with Beaconist and and
- how you're looking at health care. So we'll
- spotlight some of the things that you're doing
- today as well as how you're,
- planning to grow and develop in the future.
- But before we dig in, can you share
- with our listeners just a little bit more
- about yourself and Deaconess, Illinois?
- Sure. You know, Deaconess, Illinois consists of,
- we've got four own hospitals in the in
- the Illinois region and then few other affiliate
- locations, about seven,
- locations in total in Illinois.
- It's part of the Deaconess,
- system, based out of Evansville, Indiana with,
- roughly 23,
- now locations.
- You all did a beautiful story with our
- retiring CEO, Sheryl Wathan,
- a few weeks ago and,
- just talking about that tremendous growth from one
- health care,
- location to now 23 and something beautiful to
- watch. And and I'm fortunate to be a
- part of that and and part of a
- a system that truly cares about the communities
- it serves. So,
- and and the mission is is very, very
- real of keeping care close
- to home, which we'll talk about today. I
- love it. And, so important having that community
- feel and that mission base is really at
- the center of everything. So with that, could
- you give us a quick state of the
- union? What has gone well this year for
- Deaconess, Illinois, and what are you focused on
- for the rest of 2026?
- Yeah. So,
- really, you know, if I had to kinda
- describe,
- state of the union in a in a
- few words, I'd say it's been a definitely
- a year of momentum.
- And I would also couple that with,
- I'll say I'll phrase it like this, disciplined
- execution,
- you know, and strategic execution.
- We've definitely,
- you know, been in in growth mode as
- I kinda just mentioned
- across the system, and and Illinois is definitely
- part of that and has been a part
- of that.
- One thing I'd I would say with I'm
- proud of is we have,
- not lost focus of, you know, the patient
- and quality,
- and the patient,
- safety and patient experience through that rapid growth.
- And so,
- that's something that we are gonna continue to
- to focus on.
- We've been able to expand, you know, access,
- which I'm very passionate about here in these
- rural communities,
- in rural Southern Illinois.
- I,
- always like giving examples on this and and
- one program,
- I'm very proud of it in Union County.
- So think remote
- Southern Illinois area, we launched a memory care,
- program,
- that's now seeing patients come from three different
- states, at a critical access hospital if you
- can believe that. And they're doing some tremendous
- work. But we've got examples across the the
- region, across the system
- of, of how we've been expanding care and
- and truly raising the bar on health care
- in, in the in the region.
- That's incredible to hear. And, you know, I
- know that idea of, making sure that you've
- got,
- great care, what the community needs, and being
- able to,
- create access points, you know, is a huge
- focus for a lot of organizations, but not
- always easy. So how do you think about,
- and what are the things that you're doing
- to raise that level of care, and then
- how do you measure that success with your
- team?
- Yeah. So I I will say one of
- the benefits in in being part of a
- system is being able to to leverage those
- expertise. Right? And you couple that with today,
- we're we're so fortunate, you know, here in
- 2026
- that, you know, now we've got advanced technology
- to do that and and to, to leverage
- that technology to, you know, help expand access
- in these remote and rural areas.
- We're able to to,
- you know, use, tele or,
- use AI and and different, things like that
- that,
- you know, before, you know, we weren't able
- to do. And even,
- when,
- part of another system,
- you know, prior to to joining Deaconess, we
- we just didn't have the capital and the
- investment wasn't there to do these, these, you
- know, fun, fun things that expand access.
- So, you know, that has been definitely a
- a change in our,
- the way we've approached medicine in rural health
- care. And so, like I said, just in
- in with that memory care program,
- now with the amyloid,
- plaque testing that we're doing there and the
- early detection, we've been able to partner with,
- another,
- neuroscience
- group that, also, you know,
- helps bring in their expertise.
- And I would say helping to leverage all
- of these partnerships has really been to the
- betterment of of these rural communities that we're
- in.
- I love that. That's so helpful to understand,
- and I think especially the idea of partnerships
- are becoming more and more critical for any
- type of health care organization today.
- And, you know, along those lines, what do
- you see as being some of the biggest
- headwinds that you're keeping an eye on right
- now and preparing for?
- Laura,
- I don't know if we've got enough time
- to answer that one. You know, it it
- is it is it definitely not one single
- issue. It's that combination of the the financial
- pressures. It's the combination of the workforce dynamics,
- the change in reimbursement,
- or lack thereof of reimbursement.
- And you gotta you know, here in health
- care, we we don't get a pass. We've
- gotta continue to provide
- high quality health care every time. That's what
- our patients expect every time they walk in
- our door that we're given our best, and
- the bar isn't lowering. And so amidst all
- of these headwinds,
- I was just talking to our our CFO,
- and, you know, we're looking at the the
- Medicaid enrollment numbers here, and we're we're looking
- at, you know, those folks shifting from some
- pay to to no pay, and that is
- impacting our bottom line. You know, we're we're,
- next quarter projecting, you know, some of our
- our state directed payments to drop, you know,
- $500,000
- at at one of our locations. And we're
- saying, okay.
- That expectation, what do we do to offset
- that? And so
- these pressures are are very real.
- But, you know, what I can assure our
- communities that is that we aren't gonna let
- our quality or safety and and that experience
- drop off. We're gonna figure it out.
- Absolutely. I think that's so critical and such
- a helpful and important message to be sharing
- with your teams and, you know, the the
- broader community at large. I think,
- in understanding what some of these changes with
- Medicaid are will entail and then Yeah. You
- know, other policy shifts. I know three forty
- b is a big one for many people.
- Yeah. You know, it it's hard to really
- communicate
- what that's gonna happen to the broader public,
- but at the same time you know? So
- how do you, I guess, navigate through that
- when you're looking at, you know, what what
- is gonna make the biggest difference for us?
- How do you kinda limit the impact without
- taking on too much risk?
- Yeah. I tell you one key relationship has
- truly been,
- with with,
- our CFO and our finance,
- teams
- and truly trying to project out and and
- going through all the scenarios
- and what, you know,
- the impact of these, you know, changes are,
- payer changes,
- as you say, policy changes, three forty b,
- and truly trying to project out and scoring
- through scenarios
- of, you know, if thens.
- And so that we actually have a game
- plan to not just be able to react,
- but how do we
- actually
- get ahead of hit get ahead of things
- and start positioning ourselves
- or, you know, what we already know is
- is this, you know,
- financial mountain, that that is, in front of
- us. And so that,
- for me has been a a key,
- relationship,
- in our organization that,
- you know, we're very we're staying very close
- to or,
- I think,
- you know, we're having breakfast and dinner together
- now. So it's just
- is is is one of those things that,
- I'm sure every health care organization is is
- really looking at and and diving into,
- and and having good data,
- is definitely an important part to that.
- Absolutely. That makes a a a ton of
- sense. And, you know, I the thing you
- brought up just now having good data and
- having the technology and that kind of infrastructure
- backbone to drive the success,
- you know, is so important, but not easy.
- You know, those are huge investments, of not
- only financial resources but then time from the
- team.
- Absolutely. But you said it right. It's an
- investment. It's an investment. It, ultimately pays dividends,
- and and that's how, you know, that's how
- we definitely look at it, in in our
- health care system as as truly
- it's not a it's not necessarily a a
- cost. It's an investment.
- Absolutely. That's a great way to look at
- and think about it. And, you know, to
- that point, where do you see some of
- your best opportunities for growth in the next
- two to three years or so?
- Yeah. You know,
- I'm sure, you know, we kinda like the
- traditional answer. There's there's, you know, growth in,
- you know, specialty clinics and and some of
- the the,
- outpatient
- ambulatory, you know, there's always those opportunities. I
- think what I would add to much of
- that discussion for, for us is again,
- the partnership piece. I think, there is
- a big opportunity here in in Southern Illinois.
- Definitely when we look from a strategic standpoint
- on of leveraging that, we've got a lot
- of FQHCs
- in the area,
- as well as, you know, some independent specialists
- that, you know, historically, we've not had,
- relationships with, and we're now doing those things.
- A few, few, few,
- months ago, we we just announced the partnership
- with the VA hospital.
- I'll just give you an example of of
- a a true partnership to better the patient.
- And so we partner with, WellHive and and,
- we're the first ones in the state of
- Illinois,
- to partner with the VA and give them,
- you know, direct access to our scheduling. And
- so,
- now, you know, the VA,
- you know, can see real time
- availability.
- And so it just cuts that,
- gauntlet down of making multiple phone calls to
- try to coordinate care for our veterans. And,
- I know we got recognition in in DC
- and and several other places, but at the
- end of the day, we've gotta make that
- patient experience,
- better. And so that's just, you know, one
- of the the things I will say, you
- know, as far as growth that that we
- have a real,
- opportunity for and, you know, in addition to
- those traditional,
- areas.
- It makes a ton of sense. And,
- you know, I think it's so interesting to
- look at the patient experience, look at,
- you know, their journey through the health care
- organization, whether it's inside the walls of the
- hospital or a clinic or,
- you know, what they're doing at home and
- and how they the different access points they
- get. And so are there any, things that
- you've noticed that have changed over the last
- couple years, or what do you really see
- as patients needing now that would make that
- experience,
- you know, the one that you wanna be
- able to give them?
- You know, it it's a it's a different
- perspective,
- I would I would say. And so, you
- know, patients now,
- give you instant feedback.
- And so you it's very real time,
- and they'll go online. They'll make a post.
- I mean and so you
- every health care system, we've gotta be on
- our p's, on our q's, and making sure
- that, you know, that that experience
- meets the expectation because that expectation has definitely
- that bar has been been moved, and rightfully
- so. And so, you know, I'm I'm blessed
- to be a a part of a a
- health care organization that recognizes that and, you
- know, truly stop tries to stay in front
- of those things and and examine from, you
- know, that patient perspective what is it can
- that we can get that do better.
- And so that patient voice,
- you know, it it resonates,
- throughout our our locations. And, we talk about
- being the the deaconess difference,
- in a patient's life, and it's it's very
- real, gets to the culture of of our
- very organization and the fabric of who we
- are.
- And so I'm I'm I'm definitely proud to
- be a part of an organization like that.
- And I'll say conversely,
- the employee voice is is equally,
- as loud.
- Having a culture where people want to come
- to work is at the utmost important because
- they are truly the the face of your
- organization.
- And so,
- I I I'll stop there, but I as
- you know, Laura, I can keep going on
- this stuff.
- Oh, yeah. Absolutely. We could get a a
- whole dissertation on on the team culture and
- building,
- what is gonna be a positive,
- foundation for the future. So another podcast, another
- day will be deeper than that. But Absolutely.
- You got it. This is great. You gotta
- do. Yeah. Yeah.
- Perfect. And, you know, before we wrap up
- here with the last couple of minutes, I
- wanted to just talk to you a little
- bit about leadership. Who do you admire as
- a leader, really, from any industry and why?
- Oh, man. That is a tough
- question.
- I I will I'll give you I'll give
- you cut well, first, I'm gonna tell you,
- our our CEO,
- Sean McCoy, he is, you know, very genuine,
- very forward thinking,
- and also allows, you know, us as as
- teams and and leaders of of teams to,
- to to truly own
- our regions, own our business, own our service
- lines,
- but often
- and always reminds us, you know, of what
- that mission is, in our organization. And,
- and plus the guy can run, like, a,
- marathon in no time. So he's definitely on
- the on the list.
- And I'll I'll I'll also say,
- I'll tell you another one. I'll give you
- another one. Shaquille
- O'Neal.
- And, you know, not just because he's a
- giant, but because, you know,
- when you look at the guy and his
- and his life, he's he has truly
- done some really great work on the, in
- the philanthropic space.
- And so I, I love, you know, people
- who, who give,
- to help, the betterment of, of others and
- not for a thank you, but because it's
- the the right thing to do or the
- thing to do when you you're in that
- position to give back. And so,
- you know, those are are some, you know,
- that that would make the list. And, of
- course, you know, I it my my dad,
- my my my father-in-law, there's so many others
- just that, you know, locally that I I
- look up to and and our true heroes,
- to me, just day in day out. They,
- thankless jobs that they do, but they they
- impact so many lives.
- That's incredible to hear. I mean, it seems
- like a through line really is that humility,
- ability to inspire others, and,
- really, you know, having that positive impact on
- the the community no matter, you know, where
- you're at, being able to have that focus
- drive, and energy, which is so meaningful in
- the health care space as well.
- It is. It is. It is. Yeah. Absolutely.
- Yep. Now if only Shaq could have made
- a couple more free throws, we would be
- in a better place.
- Notice notice I didn't say anything about basketball.
- Basketball. He's not the not in prison. No.
- I'm not Sorry if you're listening, Jack. Sorry
- if you're listening.
- Excellent. Excellent. Well, Will, thank you so much
- for joining us on the podcast today. This
- has been such a fun conversation, you know,
- really Always. Absolutely. Inspiring to hear. Yeah. And
- so I know you'll be,
- speaking at our CEO CFO roundtable too. So
- we'll be looking forward to seeing you there
- in person and digging deeper into these things
- and, you know, being able to problem solve
- together.
- Absolutely. Thanks, Laura. Always a great time, and,
- we'll we'll see you all at the, at
- the, at Becker's event coming up here. Thank
- you.