News Summary
Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) has launched its 2030 Strategic Plan, focusing on community health improvements and hospital expansion. The plan includes four key imperatives aimed at prioritizing local engagement, advancing clinical quality, expanding facilities, and achieving financial stability. NAH seeks to strengthen community ties and enhance healthcare services in response to growing demands and challenges in the healthcare landscape. Key community leaders attended the unveiling, reflecting strong local interest in NAH’s future initiatives.
Flagstaff, Arizona – On August 7, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) unveiled its ambitious 2030 Strategic Plan aimed at improving community health services and expanding hospital facilities. This strategic initiative outlines four key imperatives that the organization intends to follow over the next five years to enhance healthcare delivery and organizational stability.
Strategic Imperatives Overview
The first imperative, “Put our people and community first,” highlights NAH’s commitment to better connect with the local populace. Over the past year, NAH held interviews with staff, patients, and community members to gather insights on areas that require improvement. There is a pressing need to strengthen relationships within Flagstaff and surrounding regions in response to negative perceptions of the healthcare organization. Addressing challenges stemming from high living costs and staff shortages is also a priority, including recent discussions with Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker about the inadequate infrastructure for individuals suffering from behavioral health disorders.
The second strategic imperative, “Advance our path to clinical excellence,” focuses on enhancing the quality of care at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC), which ranks among Arizona’s top healthcare facilities. The NAH leadership recognizes that continuous improvement is essential to maintaining a high standard of patient care.
Expansion Plans and Community Reach
The third imperative, “Grow our reach,” speaks to NAH’s decision to construct a new hospital within the Flagstaff area to address rising patient demands. Currently, NAH serves a vast region covering nearly 27,000 square miles and approximately 400,000 residents in Coconino and Yavapai counties. Increased patient volume, particularly due to chronic illnesses exacerbated by COVID-19, has led to longer wait times at FMC. The organization is evaluating five potential sites for the new hospital and plans to present these locations to the board of directors by the end of the year, alongside six anticipated project outcomes.
To further improve patient experience, NAH aims to enhance its online services, specifically for scheduling and rescheduling appointments.
Financial and Organizational Goals
The final imperative, “Achieve financial and organizational stability,” acknowledges the challenges surrounding financial management in the healthcare sector. While NAH is focused on community engagement, financial stability remains critical, particularly after experiencing a combined loss of $77 million over the last two years. NAH’s leaders are optimistic about breaking even for the first time since the onset of the pandemic in the current fiscal year. The organization has seen improvements in nurse retention rates, with turnover decreasing from 11% to 7% in the past year.
While acknowledging upcoming federal Medicaid cuts set to take effect in 2027, NAH’s COO remains confident that building trust with the community will ultimately lead to financial resilience.
Community Engagement and Future Initiatives
To promote ongoing dialogue with the community, NAH plans to launch a forum on its website this fall where residents can provide feedback on the strategic initiatives presented. This move underscores the organization’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with residents in Flagstaff and beyond.
Key Attendees
The strategic plan’s presentation was attended by notable local figures, including Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, Coconino County Supervisor Chair Patrice Horstman, and Coconino County Sheriff Bret Axlund, indicating strong community interest in NAH’s plans for the future.
Overall, the 2030 Strategic Plan reflects Northern Arizona Healthcare’s dedication to enhancing the health and well-being of the communities it serves while securing its operational future in a challenging healthcare environment.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Arizona Daily Sun: Monthly Provider Walks
- Wikipedia: Healthcare in the United States
- KAFF News: 2030 Strategic Plan
- Google Search: Northern Arizona Healthcare
- Flagstaff Business News: Lab Results Partnership
- Google Scholar: Northern Arizona Healthcare
- NBC News: Plague Case in Arizona
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Plague
- Fox 10 Phoenix: Northern Arizona Plague Death
- Google News: Northern Arizona Healthcare
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