Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospitals (CVPH) are both in upstate New York, and believe it or not, the closest major metropolitan area is in Montreal, Canada. Collaboration has been an important aspect of delivering quality care to the residents of that area. In our conversation with Michelle LeBeau, CEO of both facilities, Michelle shares her perspective on collaboration and more.
“Collaboration has been really important to understand what each county, each region needs, and how best to deliver care.”
~Michelle LeBeau
With nearly thirty years in health care as a registered nurse and Human Resources executive, today, Michelle leads a dynamic group of health care professionals in Malone and Plattsburgh, New York. She understands the impact individuals bring to their organization when they are engaged and feel valued. She emphasizes the creative inspiration of individual thought processes and strives to ensure all voices are heard.
She believes in the power of a smile, the strength of positivity, and the idea that opportunity is made. Michelle embraces the power of change, thrives on ambiguity, and inspires others with her energy and enthusiasm. Her daily mission is to foster a culture that empowers those around her - ensuring that Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH offer a vibrant, engaging experience for its people and patients.
Michelle is an avid learner, holding degrees in nursing, business, and human resources. She believes that learning takes many forms and that each day presents the possibility for growth.
She is most proud of her five children and marvels at watching them grow into incredible people.
The mission of Doing Unto Others (DUO) is to reach people with the love of Christ by practically meeting physical and spiritual needs through providing health resources, service industries, and educational opportunities with the hope of equipping individuals and communities for living an abundant life. We’re talking about this and more with Samuel LaFave, Director of Mobile Missions at Life Church in Cookeville, TN.
“By the time they leave they really do feel like a new person.”
~Samuel LaFave
DUO Wellness is ready to encourage personal health and promote healthy lifestyles by offering wellness screenings and consultations with health professionals, all free of charge! Our team of physicians and health professionals is passionate about putting patients in control of their health by educating and building awareness.
DUO Hair is ready to serve your community by offering haircuts for all ages at no charge! Our Hair Bus is a salon on wheels and will make you feel right at home!
DUO Food is ready to bring meals to your community! Our trailer is fitted with a grill and refrigeration to make for a successful event. The trailer can be used to serve pre-made food or food can be prepared on the trailer!
DUO Outreach is ready to address the crowd with onboard audio and lighting. The stage truck is great for being the central hub of an event!
To learn more about this program, visit their website: DUO Mission (duomobilemission.com)
High-Reliability Organizations are organizations that achieve safety, quality, and efficiency goals. They succeed in avoiding catastrophes in an environment where normal accidents can be expected due to risk factors and complexity. This week’s guest on Rural Health Leadership Radio, Dr. Lesley Ogden, has set a goal for the two hospitals she oversees to become highly reliable organizations.
“You want to assure that every time someone is cared for at your facility, you have the same excellent outcomes every time.”
~Lesley Ogden, M.D.
Dr. Lesley Ogden serves as chief executive officer for the two Samaritan critical access hospitals in Lincoln County, located on the central Oregon coast. Before taking this top position, she served as chief operations officer at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City and as interim CEO at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, and also worked clinically as an emergency and urgent care physician.
Dr. Ogden is residency trained and board-certified in emergency medicine and has more than 10 years of clinical and leadership experience. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her emergency medicine residency at Oregon Health and Science University. In addition, Dr. Ogden received a master’s degree in business administration from The Citadel and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Troy State University.
A native of Florida, Dr. Ogden has made the rural Oregon coastal community her home since 2006. She is an active Rotarian in Lincoln City and served as club president in 2016-2017. She is also on the board of directors of the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County and the Oregon Coast Community College Foundation.
Under Dr. Ogden’s leadership, both hospitals were entirely transformed recently, with a new hospital building in Lincoln City and new and renovated buildings, and hospital campus in Newport. Both hospitals are part of Samaritan Health Services, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, clinics, and health services caring for more than 250,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast.
COVID vaccination mandates are making an impact in multiple ways. When Lewis County Health System embraced the State of New York’s vaccination mandate, they ended up having resignations, causing them to temporarily suspend obstetrics service. The national news picked up the story, and the next thing you know, Jerry Cayer, CEO of Lewis County Health System, is talking with Lester Holt on the NBC Nightly News.
“One of the things that is important in rural health is that you have to be very transparent with your community.”
~Jerry Cayer
Jerry Cayer was born and raised in Maine, served in the United States Marine Corps, graduated from the University of Maine Farmington with a BS in Community Health Education and a minor in Education, and graduated from Boston University with a Master of Public Health Degree. After a number of years as a high school and college coach, he transitioned to officiating high school basketball and baseball games.
Jerry spent several years as the executive lead in the Health and Human Services Department for the City of Portland, Maine. From there he spent a decade as the Executive Vice President at Franklin Community Health Network and Franklin Memorial Hospital in western Maine. Over three years ago Jerry joined Lewis County Health System and Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville, New York (90 minutes northeast from Syracuse), as its Chief Executive Officer.