LEADER PROFILE
Serving with Purpose By Ashley Warren
T
he first wave of COVID-19 swept the United States when Jay Quebedeaux, CEO of Mena Regional Health System, had held the position for just five years. Now, as he reaches his sevenyear mark at the helm, he remains focused on the challenges yet to come in the pandemic. “In the rural market, staffing is going to continue to be an issue. That’s one of the biggest things,” Quebedeaux says, echoing the concerns of hospital leaders nationwide. With all health care job openings at historic highs and the unemployment rate ranking low among all sectors, hospitals face a significant supply and demand imbalance. Mena Regional’s culture of individualized, patient-focused care makes that a top priority. In addition to limited staffing resources, Quebedeaux is preparing to treat more COVID-19 patients, with new variants, and surmount other unanticipated obstacles before the pandemic subsides. "We're adjusting to a new world in health care," Quebedeaux says, "We've got quite a few challenges coming, but I think health care in Arkansas is ready for the challenge."
TIME TO SHINE
Despite the devastating consequences of COVID on the community – and despite the hardship it’s caused for health care workers and hospitals, Quebedeaux says, there have also been positive outcomes in the past two years: “Because of COVID, we’ve found out how resilient we are and what kind of a great staff we have. When we give them a challenge, they’re able to rise to the occasion. It builds a sense of accomplishment and makes your organization stronger in the end.” It is encouraging, he says, to see “people genuinely here to help people.”
We've got quite a few challenges coming, but I think health care in Arkansas is ready for the challenge.
ARKANSAS HOSPITALS | WINTER 2021 35
