As chief medical officer, Ralph Yates, DO, has listened to your input and used it to direct change. Exciting progress has occurred in the medical staff and medical staff office. Your voice continues to be a priority. This fiscal year’s strategy work is guided by results in the medical staff survey and focus groups.
There is more work to do. Along with your medical staff leadership, medical staff office and Andy Furman, vice president medical affairs, Dr. Yates is focused on learning more from our contracted and independent providers. Engagement has lagged in these groups compared to employed providers as benchmarked in the 2016 medical staff survey.
To engage in this important system-wide work, he needs physician leadership support to supplement his leadership within the Salem Health Medical Group. We are pleased to announce the establishment of the positions of Salem Health Medical Group associate chief medical officer, filled by Michelle Rasmussen, MD and Nicole Van Der Heyden, MD. The scope of their roles is specific to the employed group. Both bring a wealth of clinical and personal experience to these positions and we look forward to their leadership and guidance.