Hospital CEO: Engaged employees can envision and lead change

Hospitals will be more successful if employees, not just leaders, help define the mission and vision, the CEO of a critical access hospital in southwest Wisconsin says. Southwest Health Center in Platteville, Wisconsin, set up a structure to engage employees as it set out to transform itself, president and CEO Dan Rohrbach told Hospitals & Health Networks in a video interview. An employee team called "The Voice" helps run the organization, Rohrbach said. The team played a key role as the hospital increased staff by more than 25 percent and expanded from two employee practitioners to 30, he said. The changes also helped the hospital grow revenue, he said. Rohrbach said the first step was to build relationships, then work with employees to set up a structure and a framework for growth. Interview