Building a master plan for the future: How strategic planning is shaping the St. Bernard of tomorrow

Now that the Centennial Celebration is over and a host of technological advances have been implemented, St. Bernard has begun the process of planning for our long term growth. Gathering input from a variety of interested groups and parties is the first step in an ongoing process of strategic planning that looks five, ten, even twenty years into the hospital’s future.
In 2006, St. Bernard hosted a variety of focus groups comprised of physicians, staff members, hospital patients, and the community-at-large. These gatherings (hosted by a contracted consultant) allowed members to voice their opinions about the hospital facility, their experiences, and ways to improve and enhance St. Bernard Hospital. Everything from parking to procedures to customer service - and a lot more - was fair game.
Those findings become a constructive tool for the Strategic Planning Committee as they forge ahead in establishing goals and objectives for the hospital. Some goals are short-term and could be implemented in coming months and years, while others project years and years ahead.
“We’ve received some outstanding input from everyone who has taken part in our focus groups,” says Charles Holland, Vice President for Government Relations, Hospital and Community Development. “We’ve heard about subtle changes that could benefit the hospital, and at the same time we look at new programs or projects that will shape the future of St. Bernard Hospital and the Englewood community.”
Ultimately, the Stragetic Planning Committee will shape the course for enhancing and expanding St. Bernard Hospital as a whole. Could it lead to a larger, more modern facility somewhere down the road?
“One of the things we consider is how the hospital can adapt to advances in technology and the demands of the community,” says Holland. “Future plans for the hospital facility are definitely part of the conversation.”