A Leader of Faithful Heart Bill Moats

by Jodi Varnado

Bill Moats, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocoee Regional Health Corporation, has been a leader of our community for thirty years. Moats’ investment in community wellness is evident in this involvement with Ocoee Regional Health Corporation, a team of compassionate Health Care Professionals serving the communities of South East Tennessee.

“Ocoee Regional Health Corporation is a not-forprofit corporation with a mission of providing Primary Care medical services to the medically underserved. The definition of medically underserved has many facets, not just those needing assistance financially, but also those in areas where there is limited access to medical care. Our corporation began out of a need for medical care in an area that did not have access to care without driving a considerable distance,” said Moats.

This need gave rise to six locations of Ocoee Regional Health Corporation across South East Tennessee, including Polk County, Bradley County, Meigs County, Rhea County, Bledsoe County, and Grundy County. Ocoee Regional Health Corporation provides services in Primary Health, Mental and Behavioral Health, On-Site Diagnostics, and Patient Assistance Programs.

Ocoee Regional Health Corporation began serving Bradley County in Cleveland in 2004. In twelve short years, patient demands started to outgrow their facility. “In 2016, we realized that our facilities were not adequate to serve our patients and the growing medical needs in the community, so we began to look at options to improve our operations to improve our services,” said Moats. “We first looked at remodeling to expand our services, then we adopted a concept to relocate the facilities. The search for affordable property staying within the original boundaries of the target population of the southside began. That took a lot of effort and patience.”

Well, patience was rewarded. On Monday, August 2, Ocoee Regional Health Corporation opened Cleveland Family Health Care on 2020 Westland Drive SW. “We were overwhelmed that we were blessed with our chosen location for expanding and growing our services,” said Moats. Partnership was key to this success. “Ocoee Regional Health

Corporation has been blessed with a wonderful working relationship we have with a very trusted Project Manager and General Contractor, Mr. Dee Burris of Burris Construction Company. At a time when construction and building materials were skyrocketing due to the pandemic, Dee helped us complete this amazing new building, keeping us within our approved capital budget. The trust and integrity we have with Burris Construction Company is truly remarkable, and I am proud to call Dee Burris my friend.”

Although this was a great cause for celebration, Cleveland Family Health Care is still facing the same employment concerns as the rest of our community. “We would like the community to know that staffing is a major challenge, and we are planning to grow our staff to the capacity of our new 9,300 square foot facility to better serve the Primary Care medical needs. We hope to have five Primary Care Medical Providers consisting of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants, along with Behavioral and Mental Health Providers at our new office. We are also looking at the potential to offer dental services.”

After more than fourteen years as a Public-School Educator and Administrator, Moats was led to his current position. Moats’ guidance as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocoee Regional Health Corporation has allowed him to serve the South East Tennessee region beyond the boundaries of Medical Care. Moats also serves as a Board Member of the United Way of the Ocoee Region. “The United Way of the Ocoee Region is a mission-minded organization that strives to address all the major unmet needs within the communities it serves by acquiring charitable donations. I am proud of my affiliation as a Board Member in helping to assist them with their goals in meeting needs within the communities,” said Moats.

The leading principle, know your neighbor, has guided Moats throughout his career. “Some years ago, a friend and a man of faith once told me our American culture changed with the use and implication of air conditioning—it took people off of their front porches. We no longer really depend on our neighbors,” said Moats. This notion has encouraged Moats to prioritize building and sustaining relationships, professionally and personally, within our community. The significance of looking after each other has influenced Moats as an Educator, Administrator, Board Member, and President, and subsequently fashioned a leader of the community with a faithful heart.

What blessings has God shown you through this career position?

“I am far from an example of a perfect Christian man, but I know that God has been involved in all aspects of my life and work throughout the years. The greatest blessing that God has graced Ocoee Regional Health Corporation with during my tenure is the strong financial management of the people’s money—since we are a grant-funded, federally qualified health center organization. All six of our facilities are debt-free, including this new Westland Drive facility. God has blessed Ocoee Regional Health Corporation with a very dedicated Board of Directors that I am grateful to call my boss.” Where have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life?

“In my personal life, God’s presence has been miraculous with my wife, daughter, and family. Most recently, God’s faithfulness has been with my health. In 2017, without much warning, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer—Melanoma on my pancreas and liver. I was told I had three to six months to live. I was told I most likely would not live to see my second grandchild born. Medically speaking, there was little to no hope. Well, after two years of treatment by God’s amazing grace, more than four years, later I am still here with no signs of active cancer. After the initial six months following the diagnosis, I was able to continue my tenure with my God’s blessed work with Ocoee Regional Health Corporation.”

If you would like more information about Ocoee Regional Health Corporation or Cleveland Family Health Care, please visit ocoeeregional.com.