Few things bother Banner Lassen Medical Center’s new CEO more than the thought of a Lassen County resident climbing into his or her car and heading out of town for medical treatment.
“It’s one of my biggest goals – to help our residents understand that they have an outstanding, high quality hospital right here in their community,” said Sandy Dugger, who was named as the hospital’s new CEO in May after serving on an interim basis for three months.
“Banner Lassen is an incredible community asset,” Dugger said. “It’s a hospital all of us here in Susanville can be proud of.”
It’s a message Dugger tries to share at every opportunity when she’s out and about in the community that the former Wyoming resident now calls home.
In just the past several months, Dugger has participated in local charity walks and fundraising events, as well as attended rotary meetings, chamber mixers and farmer’s markets. She said these events are a great opportunity to engage with area residents, share the good news happening at the hospital and collect valuable feedback on the hospital.
Connecting with the community is just one of many areas of focus these days for Dugger.
Perhaps no area of focus is more important, she says, than the 240 employees who serve at the hospital, 1800 Spring Ridge Drive in Susanville.
“Take good care of them,” she said, “and they’ll take good care of your patients.”
To that end, Dugger has been trying to personally meet each of them by roaming the corridors of the hospital daily, visiting Banner Lassen’s clinics and physical therapy locations regularly and holding quarterly town hall-style meetings with staff. The employee town halls ensure staff know where the hospital is experiencing success and where there is still work to do. It’s also a chance for employees to ask the CEO anything they want.
“No topic is off limits,” she said. “I want employees to feel assured that they are getting open, honest and forthright communication at all times. That’s how you build trust.”
And when you succeed on that front, Dugger says, you are in a much better position to recruit and retain the best people, another important focus area for Dugger and her team.
Over the summer, Dugger has also overseen the formation of a new executive leadership team at the hospital. Since Dugger took the reins as CEO, Banner Lassen has gained a new chief nursing officer, chief medical officer, chief financial officer and human resources executive. Together, these four new team members bring nearly 100 years combined health care experience to the hospital’s senior leadership team.
Another focus area for Dugger has been leveraging the expertise and resources of Phoenix-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, to enhance existing programs and services, add new programs and services, and further invest in new medical equipment and capital improvements.
Banner Lassen has already seen some significant achievements since Dugger’s arrival, including the relaunch of the hospital’s sleep medicine program. After successfully acquiring accreditation and making some key staff additions, the program was able to reopen in August.
Future plans call for improvements to the hospital’s busy emergency department and the addition of new medical and behavioral specialties and services.
While she looks forward to those projects, Dugger said it’s important for residents to understand that Banner Lassen is already an impressive medical center, providing a level of care on par with any of Banner’s 28 hospitals spread across six western states.
She said the hospital’s medical imaging department, for example, features much of the same technology and equipment you’d find at much larger, urban hospitals, including 3D mammography, MRI, and nuclear medicine.
“The community is truly fortunate to have such a high level of care available right here,” Dugger said.
Dugger said she’s excited to be in Susanville and feels privileged to have the opportunity to further strengthen the hospital’s reputation for excellent patient care.
“With 29 years of experience working within the Banner Health system, I am ready for this new opportunity,” Dugger said. “I look forward to bringing a new level of care and commitment to the Susanville community.”
For more information about Banner Lassen Medical Center, call (530) 252-2000, visit the hospital’s website at www.BannerHealth.com/Lassen, or follow them on Facebook.
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