Foley appointed as Jacobi Hospital’s new leader

Foley appointed as Jacobi Hospital’s new leader
Photo courtesy of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

One of the borough’s largest and most important medical providers has a new leader.

William Foley is now CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi.

Foley began work on Monday, September 12 in a newly created position as the city hospital system undergoes an executive level restructuring.

The new CEO said that one of his priorities will be focusing on improving customer service and patient experience at Jacobi, which still is frequently where people who do not have health insurance go to receive needed medical care.

The focus on the patient satisfaction is important, because many previously uninsured patients now have health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, said Foley.

“That is good news, but now the challenge is that other hospitals are interested in our patients because of the coverage,” said the hospital CEO. “We really have to compete in terms of patient satisfaction and customer service…it is the right thing to do.”

He added: “You could provide the highest quality care, but if the service is lousy, people are going to remember it.”

Under the ACA, patient rating reports are a factor in determining how much hospitals are reimbursed, said a Jacobi spokesman.

Foley said that he believes that Jacobi’s biggest strengths, in addition to being a central location accessible by public transportation and being part of NYC Health + Hospitals, is the dedication of its physicians, clinicians and staff to the hospital’s mission of serving all who need healthcare irrespective of their ability to pay.

“I believe strongly that public hospitals and health systems have a very important mission in delivering healthcare to the underserved,” said Foley, adding that Jacobi’s strong relationship with Albert Einstein College of Medicine with regard to academics is another strength.

His focus, he said, will be on deciding what clinical services the hospital will offer, and making sure that what it does is consistent with NYC Health + Hospitals Vision 2020 overall plan and roadmap for the future.

He would also like to improve access and expand Jacobi’s services out in the community.

The new CEO has visited various hospital departments, and reached out to the hospital’s community advisory board and attended the Bronx Columbus Day Parade and its dinner dance, where he meet local residents and leaders, said Foley.

Foley also plans to meet with all elected officials representing the area to hear their suggestions and look at areas where they can partner, said a Jacobi spokesman.

Foley has experience in healthcare in both the public and private sector, as well as in academia, and he said that he believes that his experience as the CEO of Cook County Health and Hospital Systems on Chicago’s west side from 2007 to 2009, which is the third largest public hospital system in the United States, will be especially helpful in his current role.

Earlier experience at the public Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in California will also be useful in terms of providing insights into running Jacobi, said Foley.

Reach Reporter Patrick Rocchio at (718) 260–4597. E-mail him at procchio@cnglocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @patrickfrocchio.