Building Trust and Health Equity One Brick at a Time: My First 100 Days as President & CEO of Central Health

As I reflect on my first 100 days as President & CEO of Central Health, one word comes to mind: trust. In a healthcare landscape that often feels like "grabbing bricks out of the air and building a house in the middle of a hurricane," as our Senior Communications Manager Mike McKinnon colorfully put it, establishing trust is our singular focus.??

Our journey began with genuine interactions, spending nearly 500 hours with internal and external stakeholders. We engaged with CommUnityCare Health Centers, Sendero Health Plans, elected officials, health system leaders, key partners like Dell Medical School at UT and Integral Care. We participated in roundtables and community conversations with diverse groups including African American, Latinx, AAPI, and LGBTQIA+ leaders.

Why this intense focus on connection? Because Central Health's greatest strength is its people. We have a capable, experienced team that's passionate about our mission. Despite being a government entity, we operate with a startup's boldness – growth-minded, flexible, and able to pivot quickly. ?

This agility is crucial as we sprint into our Healthcare Equity Plan, which has transformed from theory to practice this past year. With 11 new clinical service lines, several diagnostic service lines, a navigation center, coordination of care, medical respite, transitional care, skilled nursing facilities, and more, we are delivering on our promise to build a better healthcare system. ?

Leading Central Health into this new era is a deep honor and a huge responsibility. ?

This is not the same organization it was a year ago. The Healthcare Equity Plan has profoundly changed the way that we see our work. It is our “North Star.” ?

Through the efforts of our team, we have been able to: ?

• Treat more than 1,500 patients with 11 new direct specialty care service lines and needed diagnostic services that have been lacking in Travis County’s safety-net system for decades, reducing wait times and achieving better outcomes through early intervention.?

• Partner with Integral Care (Travis County’s local mental health authority) to provide 24/7 psychiatric emergency services.?

• Provide respite care for nearly 300 people who do not have stable housing, giving them a place where they can rest and recover. ?

• Partner with Travis County, the County Sheriff, and Integral Care to improve jail healthcare and create diversion services to direct people to treatment rather than incarceration.?

• Adopt a new unified brand across the Central Health system – including CommUnityCare Health Centers and Sendero Health Plans – that symbolizes how the three organizations work together to achieve shared goals and better outcomes for Travis County residents with low income.?

Our progress in these first 100 days is a testament to the dedication and compassion of our team. We are united by a shared commitment to leading with love, embracing the notion that we are "one trunk, many branches", and recognizing that our diversity is our strength.?

As we build a more equitable healthcare system, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and appreciate the collective efforts of our team and partners. Together, we are laying the foundation for lasting health equity, one brick at a time.

By Dr. Pat Lee, President & CEO