On Thursday, December 3, Walnut Hill Medical Center hosted Rachel Shmueli, CEO of Assuta Ashdod Hospital, (AAH) and Dr. Michal Guindy, Head of Imaging of Assuta Medical Centers in Israel. Throughout the years Israel has continuously developed and renovated existing centers, but the 300-bed facility in Ashdod will be the first brand new public hospital to be built in Israel in 45 years. The hospital is set to open in May 2017, near the center of Israel.
“We learned about Walnut Hill Medical Center while searching for new hospitals around the world that we could learn from. Surprisingly enough, very few hospitals have the opportunity to have a fresh start like us. Reading about WHMC, its mission, values and challenges, we felt we have a similar approach to deliver health care,” said Rachel Shmueli, CEO of Assuta Ashdod Hospital. “Walnut Hill Medical Center seems to have found new solutions to old problems. The habit of smiling to one another, the emergency rooms workflow and all of the stories about the hospital make it unique. I felt that although we were many miles apart, our shared vision made us very close.”
Dr. Michal Guindy and Rachel Shmueli spent the day speaking with Cory Countryman, CEO of Walnut Hill Medical Center and Dr. Nick Karr, WHMC’s ER Medical Director, among many other physicians and staff members. Discussions were centered around how WHMC was built, the culture and the opening of a brand new hospital. They also toured the hospital with directors, taking note of WHMC’s cardiac, surgery and nursing floors, the radiology department and the nationally recognized Emergency Department. They also spent time with Keri White, VP of Human Resources on recruiting and hiring the right staff members for a hospital focused on patient experience.
“It is a great honor to share our accomplishments and our focus on patient-centered care with Assuta Ashdod Hospital,” said Cory Countryman. “I am proud that our hard work and dedication from the employees and physicians toward enhancing health care are valued around the world. It is a testament that putting the focus on patient experience is truly a universal outlook.”