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Gabbe: Elite hospitals fulfilling mission to improve lives

Posted on | February 3, 2010 | 1,177 views |

state of the medical center

By Jeff McCallister

Steven Gabbe isn’t exactly someone who might be confused with a rock star.

But since he had such a strongly encouraging message to deliver in his state of the Medical Center address Jan. 26, he enlisted a bit of help from Marvin Gaye.

In a presentation spiced with snippets from some of the Motown legend’s most popular songs, Gabbe, senior vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of the Medical Center, told a packed crowd in the Meiling Hall auditorium how the Medical Center is fulfilling its mission to improve people’s lives.

What’s Goin’ On?
Gabbe began (backed by Gaye’s 1971 hit) with general updates and a nod to what he called “the Power of One,” a multifaceted reference to One University, One Medical Center, Project One.

He laid out the mission, vision, values and goals of the Medical Center for 2010 and beyond, and spent the majority of his time giving examples how the Medical Center improves people’s lives internationally, nationally, regionally and internally.

He said the international reach was being demonstrated as he spoke — he has asked Howard Werman, medical director of OSUMC Med Flight and associate professor of clinical emergency medicine, to lead the center’s response. To that point, more than $25,000 in cash alone had been collected, not including supplies and service hours that were still being compiled.

My Pride and Joy
The Medical Center’s national presence has grown even in the last year, with recognition from US News & World Report not only as one of America’s best medical schools but also as one of the nation’s best hospitals. It’s also recognized as a magnet hospital for nursing.

Gabbe then briefly laid out the Medical Center’s preparations for pending health care reform, preparations that have included or will include town hall meetings with Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Tom Daschle (N.D.).

On a regional level, Gabbe outlined the Medical Center’s connection to the Central Ohio Hospital Council, a partnership that allows OSU to share an information system as well as the burden of uncompensated care with other hospitals in the region.

He estimated the Medical Center pumps about $2.4 billion into the region’s economy annually, a figure that will nearly double with the completion of Project One.

But the Medical Center is growing in other areas as well, with new ambulatory care facilities recently completed or in the works in numerous areas.

It Takes Two
Finally, he listed some internal highlights, including improved patient satisfaction that has surpassed its stated goals; increased market share for the Medical Center (now in a virtual tie for second among the three hospital systems for the first time), a stable financial picture and curriculum redesign in the College of Medicine, implemented for the Class of 2012.

More on the speech can be found at medicalcenter.osu.edu/aboutus/somc/Pages/index.aspx.

The year ahead

Medical Center CEO Steven Gabbe highlighted four goals for the year ahead that will help the hospitals continue to fulfill their mission:
• Focus on patient satisfaction, safety and quality.
• Maintain financial strength and stability.
• Grow research — especially in the areas of personalized health care.
• Protect and grow jobs, including key recruits.

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