Meet Michael Anaya, CEO of Doctors Hospital
Michael A. Anaya, Sr., has been at the helm as chief executive officer at Doctors Hospital since August 13. He's taken the time to reflect on initiatives he has implemented and continues to implement to keep apace with measures that ensure quality health care in Laredo .
Anaya, a native of Hot Springs , New Mexico , was most recently chief operating officer at Tenet Saint Louis' St. Alexius Hospital. Prior to that, he served as chief executive officer at Dundy County Health System in Benkelman , Nebraska . Additionally, Anaya served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years in a variety of healthcare related leadership positions including chief financial officer of a naval hospital in Sigonella , Italy . His healthcare management background also includes experience in managed care support, human resources, capital equipment projects, and materials management. He retired from the military in November 2000 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
Anaya holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Wayland Baptist University in Wichita Falls , TX , and a Master of Public Administration degree from Midwestern State University . Demonstrating his commitment to the healthcare profession, Anaya became a board certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives . He is married and has five children.
"I am quite excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for me here at Doctors Hospital ," said Anaya of the 178-bed acute care facility. " Doctors Hospital is a wonderful medical facility that prides itself in servicing Laredo and the surrounding area with quality healthcare and the utmost respect for patients. We have a wonderfully dedicated team of healthcare professionals."
LareDOS publisher María Eugenia Guerra caught up with Anaya and heard his perspectives on initiatives he has undertaken at Doctors Hospital to address the health care issues of the border.
What has brought you to the field of medical administration?
It chose me rather than me choosing it. When I enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17 I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. The USAF offered me a pharmacy technician specialty and it sounded pretty interesting, it was either that or a few other specialties that weren't so interesting. I wanted to be where my work helped people. With a little perseverance I began to work on my undergraduate and graduate degree in healthcare while on active duty. During this time I became more aware of what opportunities were available for myself while serving in uniform so I pursued a commission in the Medical Service Corps of the United States Navy. However, what I have failed to mention is that I had quite a few mentors along the way that saw more in me than what I saw of myself. They nudged me in a direction that has since continuously challenged me and at the same time provided me with fulfillment. This 21-year stint in the military brought me outsized leadership skills, team work skills, and an ability to visualize globally. I love what I do. Being in the people caring business is quite rewarding. Now that being said, sure there are downsides to everything; however, I see every problem as an opportunity. If I can play a part in the quality delivery of care, and in the quality of service, and make a difference, then that's my priority. Making our patients' stay comfortable and meeting their needs as well as the needs of our community means we're making a difference and a contribution.
What have you most liked about relocating to Laredo and in particular to Doctors Hospital ?
The people! We have a team of very caring, dedicated, and hard working people. I like to find people's passion and strengths and move them to fill that role so they can share with other people. And this staff is more than willing to venture out and enhance service and quality expectations. I admire their involvement, their courage to excel and gain professional satisfaction!
What have you identified as the principal health care issues specific to the border?
The high numbers of uninsured in our area, the undocumented immigrant volume that impacts our local health system, and the severe lack of medical specialists.
How does Doctors Hospital address those issues? Name some of the initiatives you are implementing to improve community awareness of those issues.
Unfortunately, what we are seeing in Laredo mirrors what health care is reacting to nationally. Hospitals around the country are working hard to meet the needs of their communities and to assist patients with limited means. Last year alone Doctors Hospital provided over $12 million in uncompensated care -- charity and other care that is provided for but which no payment is received. However, the reality is that those patients who do not have insurance to help cover the cost of their care burdens the tax payer, and drives up the costs in premiums, cost of health care, malpractice, etc. Also, there are over 130,000 pages of Medicare rules which we must abide by. In these Medicare pages are billing/collection rules which requires us to demonstrate reasonable collection efforts for all types of patients. While technically these rules only apply to Medicare beneficiaries, their practical effect, due to Medicare's huge influence on health care, shape policies for all hospital patients. Meaning national standard billing and collection practices.
We here at Doctors Hospital are practicing these collection efforts or risk losing Medicare reimbursement. Now this being said, Doctors Hospital is working with patients by making attempts in helping them qualify for existing coverage options, communicating with them, and establishing payment programs and ensuring fair and balanced billing and collection practices.
The undocumented immigrant issue is a long-standing issue with all border hospitals and needs the attention of our state and federal politicians. We must collectively devise a program to address this issue and still be able to conform to federal and state policies which dictate that we must provide limited emergent care for all who present themselves. We here at Doctors are vocalizing this issue with various state and federal politicians providing guidance and requesting support.
Lastly, Doctors Hospital is working diligently at recruiting physicians in certain specialty areas, such as neurology, urology, cardiology, and gastroenterology.
Name some of the initiatives you are implementing to improve patient services.
Our patient service initiative is two-fold: first, researching and determining our community needs, and secondly, developing these product lines.
From a customer service viewpoint, we are rolling out a new service excellence program aimed at our personnel, capturing the passion and energy of our people who thrive on making things better every day for our customers (patients, family members, physicians, etc.), our organization, and themselves.
How do you make sure compassion is woven into the plethora of medical services a hospital offers, and how do you figure it into the bottom line of operational costs?
By sustaining a culture of excellence. Using sound and timeless principles I learned over the years, a strong focus on developing leaders, using practical and prescriptive steps that hardwire operational systems into place, continuous development of new tools and techniques, and the use of our newly formed Service Excellence team who are experienced in the process of creating operational excellence in our organization. I have demonstrated over the years that patient, staff member, and physician satisfaction, which were once viewed as soft tactics, actually create bottom line results by producing a better work environment for our employees, a better practice environment for our physicians, and a better care environment for our patients. This is demonstrated through reduced employee turnover, agency cost, overtime, and claims, whereby increasing clinical outcomes, volume, and bottom line, all which can be reinvested for even better results.
What sets Doctors Hospital of Laredo apart from other area hospitals?
Our people, our organizational culture, and distinguishing ourselves as a leader in redefining health care delivery. Being recognized for the passion of our people and partners in providing quality, innovative care to the patients we serve in our community.
How diverse is the Laredo medical community? In what area of care are more doctors most needed?
Our medical community is diverse, but we are still an underserved area based on population and skill mix. My focus is to determine with our medical staff what specialties are most needed, develop a recruitment plan prioritizing and justifying recruitment decisions, and then working to fill the need.
How does a hospital measure its efficacy and viability in a community?
From a medical perspective that measure is made via the quality of care based on national standards and the hospital's ability to provide the desired outcomes of the community it serves. At Doctors Hospital we are continuously improving the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in our hospital.
