Guiding hand

Essentia Health leader oversees significant growth

BY KAYLA PRASEK

In the year and a half since Tim Sayler took on his role as chief operating officer of Essentia Health West Region, he has helped guide the health system through a period of significant growth, including a $60 million addition to the Fargo, N.D., hospital. “We’re adjusting to the rapid growth and significant changes in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota,” Sayler says. “We’ve added a number of providers, and have gone through a significant construction phase, which will continue into the future.”

Sayler came to Essentia Health with an extensive background in and passion for health care administration. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a certificate in hospital administration from Concordia College in Moorhead. He also has a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of

Colorado in Denver. Prior to joining Essentia, he worked at Altru Health System in Grand Forks, N.D., for 27 years, where he served as COO before going to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, where he served as chief executive officer and president for four years. Sayler joined Essentia in March 2014.“In college I knew I was going to do something in business, and I found health care interesting,” Sayler says. “I look at it as a helping industry. In particular, we have an opportunity to impact people’s lives. I’ve been lucky to be in a position to develop programs and services to help with our patients’ needs.”

As COO of Essentia Health West Region, Sayler oversees five hospitals, 25 community clinics, three long-term care facilities, two assisted-living facilities and two independent-living facilities in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Sayler’s responsibilities include setting the strategic direction for the region and overseeing the operations of the region.

“The industry is going through significant changes, and we’re adjusting to how care is delivered,” Sayler says. “It requires re-thinking where we’re trying to focus our time. We want to deliver value to our population as the costs of health care services continue to rise.”

Sayler says the team aspect at Essentia has been key to helping the health system adjust to its growth. “What I’m seeing in the west region is the development of a team of individuals from leadership down to staff and providers aligned around our patients and our mission. That in itself is a measure of improvement of our health care. We’re also working around facility improvements and increasing our number of providers.” Sayler won’t take sole credit for Essentia’s success, saying “most of what I’ve accomplished is in a team.”

In addition to ensuring Essentia is adjusting to the growth it’s experienced, Sayler and his team have placed increasing focus on quality. “The quality of health care and services we provide to our patients are how they can measure our value,” Sayler says.

As for its growth, Essentia Health West Region now has about 4,000 staff. In Sayler’s time with the health system, it has grown to about 400 providers, while the Fargo hospital grew to 133 beds. About 1,400 patients are served daily. “We’re moving to be a tertiary center for specialty care, particularly in heart, spine, stroke, cancer and orthopedic care, which are the areas we’ve seen the most growth,” Sayler says. “Our women’s health care continues to also be a strong point for us.”

In addition to the expansion at Essentia’s Fargo hospital, which opened this summer, construction just started on a new primary care clinic in the city. “Fargo is constantly growing,” Sayler says. “We’ve spent a lot of time planning and figuring out where we need to be in the next couple years to accommodate that growth to make sure the facilities and number of providers necessary are in place.”

Sayler has used Essentia’s growth as an opportunity to immerse the health system into the community. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been trying to be more engaged on the community side and are working with other health care organizations to see how we can be involved.” Essentia has developed a partnership with Fargo’s new Ed Clapp Elementary School, which is across the street from the hospital, to build health into education. “We’re working with the community to be out there and improve the health status within our region.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer Prairie Business 701-780-1187, kprasek@prairiebizmag.com