Leadership Can Transform Health Care

William D. Petasnick, President and CEO of Froedtert & Community Health in Wisconsin, called on the nation's hospitals to close ranks and push for national health reform in the upcoming elections. He spoke at the opening event of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) annual meeting in Washington, DC. Mr. Petasnick currently serves as AHA's chairman of the Board of Trustees.

"The upcoming election gives us a chance to do something previous generations have tried, but failed to accomplish - to fundamentally make health care better for everyone, regardless of race, zip code, gender or wealth," Mr. Petasnick said. "[W]e need to work together and we need to listen to one another if we are going to succeed in changing our non-system of health care into an efficient and coordinated one."

Describing his own passion for improving health care, Mr. Petasnick offered advice for how to achieve change given the economic and political complexities that surround healthcare reform.

"This time around, we must make the debate about ideas and transparency, not about old dogmas, partisan labels and personal ideologies," Mr. Petasnick said. "When it comes to health care, the only interest that should be special is our patient's interest."

According to Mr. Petasnick, while change does not come quickly, "transforming health care will demand more consistent leadership and commitment than ever before."

Mr. Petasnick also spoke about what has driven him throughout his career in health care. "One of my greatest passions is the work we do on behalf of our patients," he said. "It's the one constant purpose that everyone in this room shares. It's the one common element that unites us."

And while competition is good in many ways - "having the Packers beat the Bears is a very good thing," the Wisconsin-born Mr. Petasnick said - in health care it can create barriers to collaboration and make reform more difficult. Mr. Petasnick encouraged healthcare leaders to work together to achieve necessary change.

"And, as we come together to chart a new and better course, our vision must be clear, our leadership strong, our voice unified."

Mr. Petasnick's remarks came as part of an investiture ceremony marking his tenure as AHA's 2008 chairman. Mr. Petasnick earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and master's in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. He is an adjunct associate professor of health management at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

In 2007, Mr. Petasnick received the first ever Honorary Doctorate in Health Management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

This article was made available by the American Hospital Association.

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