In August, Lifespan Corp. announced that it had created and filled a new position. Todd Conklin, former chief operating officer of a major health system in the Midwest, is Lifespan’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Conklin is tasked with overseeing the health system’s five hospitals and its Gateway Healthcare programs. In addition, Conklin heads Lifespan’s operational performance, which includes patient satisfaction and its quality and effectiveness of care.
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PBN: What drew you to Lifespan Corp. from Ascension Health System?
CONKLIN: The opportunity to help drive the growth and development of an innovative academic health care system with visionary leaders very much appealed to me, as did being part of an organization that cares about the community it serves.
Lifespan places a high priority on keeping quality health care accessible and affordable for families in the state and surrounding areas. The team at Lifespan is top notch, with world-class clinicians, researchers and other experts in their fields.
I was also drawn to Lifespan by its location in Rhode Island and the beautiful beaches and coastal scenery in this state. Coming from the Midwest, it is a really nice change of scenery.
PBN: What is your first priority in your new role?
CONKLIN: My immediate priority is to support Lifespan operations through the unprecedented challenges that have surfaced from the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to support our team in continuing to provide quality care to patients. This requires continually evaluating and adjusting operational structures to make sure they are efficient and effective, and lead to high patient satisfaction.
Lifespan employees on the frontline and essential support staff have accomplished heroic work during the pandemic but may understandably feel fatigued. My goal is to support our employees by helping to make sure they have the resources and support they need to be successful.
PBN: Have the shifts and creativity forced upon the medical industry by the COVID-19 pandemic helped foster any new ideas for you as you join Lifespan?
CONKLIN: The COVID-19 pandemic has flipped norms on their sides. It has caused businesses to perform their work in a drastically different manner, either virtually or in-person with new safety precautions. The health care field also had to shift in response to the coronavirus. For example, many hospitals and health systems had to use new or different ways to care for patients. This was especially challenging because so much was changing so rapidly during the peak of the pandemic back in the spring.
One way that Lifespan adjusted to the pandemic was to have environmental service workers spray down each hospital room with disinfectant before wiping down the room with sani-cloths, which protected staff and allowed rooms to be cleaned deeper in a fairly short amount of time.
PBN: With both cost-effectiveness and quality of care in mind, how do you envision the “new normal” for Lifespan during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?
CONKLIN: Some of the ways that Lifespan adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic have turned out to be very efficient operationally and may continue post-coronavirus, such as telehealth, remote work for those whose jobs allow it and virtual patient visitation options.
While we navigate the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lifespan will continue to innovate and transform operations to provide the best patient experience.
PBN: What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from your time at other health systems about improving operational and financial performances, particularly for hospitals?
CONKLIN: My biggest takeaway is that any and every decision must be centered on achieving long-term success in delivering efficient and high-quality patient care. At Lifespan, our commitment and pursuit of excellence is centered on delivering health with care. At times, achieving this can be challenging given the complexity and dynamic nature of our health care environment. However, it is always gratifying work, and it is a privilege to serve our community.
Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.
