Dr. Thomas D. Wold is the new chief medical officer at Kent County Memorial Hospital. A proud New Englander, Wold has years of experience as a health care leader. He most recently worked as the division vice president of graduate medical education in the Capital Division at the Healthcare Corp. of America in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to that role, he was chief medical officer at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., for six years. He discusses goals for his new role at Kent Hospital and the challenges health care is facing right now.
PBN: What attracted you to the position of chief medical officer at Kent Hospital?
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WOLD: Having grown up in Massachusetts and having practiced in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, I am a proud New Englander. I was attracted to Kent Hospital as a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community.
I have been impressed with the genuine mission of the hospital to serve the community, and I’m also impressed with how the community values Kent as a foundational part of its health care needs. My previous role as CMO at Portsmouth Hospital was part of a larger corporation. Being part of this community, engaging with the breadth of services that Kent offers and working alongside the dedicated staff and providers make this a wonderful opportunity.
PBN: How does your previous experience in health care benefit the patients at Kent Hospital and shape your vision for this new role?
WOLD: I certainly learned a great deal in my previous CMO role. The most exciting aspect of the job is teaming up with all levels of providers and support staff to find innovative solutions to complex problems. From quality and safety to patient experience, the engagement and collaboration of good-functioning teams can create lasting improvements.
I started my career in the ICU [intensive care unit], where the complexity of care demands that all levels of the team function and respect each other. As we take on the many challenges that health care presents, my goal is to guide engaged teams to sustain the great performance and quality of care performed at Kent.
PBN: What are some of the main challenges Kent Hospital is facing right now? How do they reflect broader challenges in health care?
WOLD: The current problems facing health care are widespread and challenging. Kent is facing the same challenges that many health care systems are. The migration of health care professionals and staff out of the acute care setting has left hospitals struggling to meet the demands.
It is, however, an opportunity. Working in health care is incredibly rewarding. Creating rewarding and fulfilling career opportunities so that people fill their current needs but also become part of a sustained and engaged workforce is critical.
PBN: What are your top priorities for your first 30, 60, or 90 days as chief medical officer?
WOLD: My top priority in the short term is to integrate into the exciting and dedicated culture at Kent. Relationship building is a long-term endeavor, but meeting and understanding the most acute challenges to the providers and staff will be extremely important. I am excited to join the great teams already in place and then build a collaborative foundation for innovative solutions to the most acute challenges.
PBN: What accomplishments are you most proud of in your medical career?
WOLD: I am most proud of the teamwork and collaboration that has fueled the success in quality, safety and resilience of the health care teams I have worked with. When there is a collective sense of ownership and achievement after facing substantial challenges, that success builds cohesiveness in an organization.
Many organizations have faced unbelievable challenges and hardships during the last few years. Those that have sustained in health care and those new to health care will need to work together to face the upcoming challenges. Being part of the effort and ultimately cultivating a shared sense of success in performance improvement is what drives my passion for health care.
Claudia Chiappa is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Chiappa@PBN.com.
