Craig's Clovis Community CyberBlog

Clovis WINS Recess '08!

2008-07-24T00:36:00Z

I think I speak for many of us when I say, "recess was my favorite subject in grammar school!" Well, the first annual Community Medical Centers' Recess event was more fun than I ever imagined. The event created friendly competition between the various CMC facilities and corporate office at various levels of the Save Mart Center. It’s an honor to report that Clovis Community Medical Center (CCMC) WON FIRST PLACE in the inaugural Recess event as the result of individual and team challenges that ranged from marbles and jacks to some intense volleyball. Here are some of the SUPER STARS of winning CCMC Team! Please scroll down to see more....

Ginny Burdick, Chief Human Resource Officer presents Craig Castro, CEO CCMC w/thropy

“Individual” events:

Marbles: Connie Green – 1^st Place

Four Square: Jennifer Scales – 1^st Place

Janet McQuillan – 2^nd Place

Wanda Coleman – 3^rd Place

Jacks: Susanne Sanchez – 1^st Place

Michelle Kempff – 3^rd Place

Paper Airplane for Distance:

Nestor Lardizabal – 1^st Place

Jeremy Borcherding – 2^nd Place

Hula Hoop: Mary Huffman – 1^st Place

Rock Wall Races: Matthew Weldon – 1^st Place ~ male champion

Hayley Ripley – 1^st Place ~ female champion

“Team” events:

Volleyball: Dodge Ball aka Team Yoshida:

Chanell Leiker Brandon Yoshida

Ed Navarro Francine De la Rosa

Gustavo Casillas Jordan Santiago

Hayley Ripley Jon Yoshida

Jeremy Borcherding Mike Roqueta

Josh Borcherding Paul Yoshida

Juan Contreras

Martin Perea

Nestor Lardizabal

Rachelle Miller

Rose Marquez (Awesome Coach!)

Walter Cruz

Zujey Marquez

Best National Hospital Week of My Life!

2008-05-23T16:09:00Z

I've been in the healthcare industry for more than 20 years now and have never experienced such a feeling of reward and joy from National Hospital Week as I did last week. Maybe it was the cool Clovis Community shirts (see some of our Laboratory team member models!), serving root beer floats, observing the intense (and hot!) Salsa contest, or the BBQ ribs & chicken combined with an outstanding band that made me pause and realize how fortunate I am to work with such outstanding, fun, and most importantly, caring people! Thanks to all of you who make Clovis Community Simply the Best!

Team Clovis Community Supports Angel Babies

2008-05-19T16:49:00Z

I had the honor of joining several Clovis Community Medical Center (CCMC) Maternal Child team members, family members, and "mascot-dog" on Saturday, May 3rd at Woodward Park to support Angel Babies of Hinds Hospice in the 3rd annual walk/run event.

Did you know that more than 3,000 babies are born each year at Clovis Communiy? Angel Babies is to comfort, support, and uphold the dignity of families whose babies have a life limiting condition or whose babies have died. Thanks to ALL of the CCMC team members and Angel Babies who give their time, talents, and hearts to caring for the children, parents & families we serve.

Expansion plans on-track!

2008-04-09T20:23:00Z

Our much needed expansion remains on track .... our management team continues to work with physicians, staff, architects and community leaders to develop master campus plans for our 117+acre hospital campus. Look for "dirt to begin moving" this coming October for a two-story, 22,500-square-foot add-on to the outpatient care facility and additional parking. The expanded area is expected to open in the Fall 2009.

The first floor will include expansion of the Marjorie E. Radin Breast Care Center and a dedicated four-room endoscopy suite with associated pre-operative, post-operative, recovery and exam rooms. The second floor will feature four (4) new operating rooms and associated pre-operative, post-operative and recovery areas, as well as the only Level 3 in-vitro fertilization center between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

We have had a 45% surgical volume growth over the past two years and this expansion cannot come fast enough! It truly brings top facilities and leading-edge equipment and treatment to better serve our patients. This expansion is part of our commitment to convenience and superior customer service for our patients, families and physicians who partner in providing outstanding care at Clovis Community.

Clovis Community’s service area is projected to see a population increase of 15,000 within the next five years and a 43% increase in overall growth in the next two decades.

The hospital’s master plan currently calls for an addition to the outpatient surgery center, more parking, and eventually a larger emergency department, private patient rooms, and much more.

Barrier to Blogging?

2008-04-09T17:19:00Z

Okay ... it's been months since I've posted to my blog so I finally decided to sit down for a few minutes and confess (or rationalize!) my reasons for the delay. I believe most of you who know me would agree I do not usually procrastinate and prefer to “get things done and done just right!” One of my (many!) short-comings relates to wanting to “do things right!” Some say this is an important trait while others call it a serious character defect. It's difficult to aurgue that such a trait is not important in healthcare and other professions that require precision, attention to detail, and follow-up. However, it is not required to be a good blogger! In fact, it is a counter to “blog culture!”

It seems as though every time I have an idea for an interesting and note-worthy blog entry I don’t have ample time to prepare “well thought-out” content so the posting “is done just right!” Blogs are intended to be spontaneous, brief, current and even imperfect. It’s acceptable to find typos, fragmented sentences, and other “not-so-right” content … so, here’s to improved blogging (did I really just say that???!!!) and less worry about “doing it just right!”

Enhanced Clovis Leadership Team!

2007-06-15T18:02:00Z

Here's a recent press release that is very EXCITING ....

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Clovis Community Medical Center named four new administrators May 30. Chief executive officer Craig S. Castro brought in three executives from out of town and made one of his interim officers permanent to form a leadership team that will support continued growth in anticipation of impending expansion plans.

Castro said he appreciated the patience of the medical center’s staff during his first year at the helm as he searched for the right fit for a cohesive and experienced leadership team.

“I’m excited to be putting together a top-notch team all at once that can now carry out our vision and mission,” Castro said. “These talented individuals bring complementary skills and a wealth of knowledge from other healthcare organizations. But best of all, they all have ties to and a passion for the Valley and our diverse needs.”

Craig Wagoner joins the hospital July 2 as the new chief operating officer after relocating from Utah where he held the same position at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center for two years. Before that, he served in various executive roles with the for-profit Iasis Healthcare Corporation and held management positions with the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (UUHC), Davis Hospital and Medical Center and American Healthways. Wagoner and his wife are native Californians and are eager to return after 13 years away.

David Boyd, registered nurse, accepted the position of chief nursing officer after serving as Clovis’ interim CNO during the past month and as Community’s director of clinical effectiveness for the previous four years. Prior to these duties, he was director of emergency and surgical services at University Medical Center, where he began his nursing career in 1985.

Castro said, “I am extremely pleased to have David join the team permanently. With his extensive knowledge of health care standards, regulations and clinical practice, David is an outstanding fit.”

Clovis’ new director of business planning, Denise Perry, brings 26½ years of experience in clinical and administrative roles at Tulare District Healthcare System (TDHS), including the most recent three years as COO and interim CEO. Besides her work in budgeting and business development, Perry was a critical care nurse and held management positions in critical care, medical/surgical services, cardiology and respiratory care units.

“Denise has been instrumental in securing funding and leading an major facilities expansion effort at TDHS,” Castro said, “which fits well with her new responsibilities here at Clovis Community.”

Fresno native Michelle Johnson Serrato is returning home after 15 years in Southern California working in various service-industries including Smith Barney and Prudential Securities. She’ll be stepping into the newly created position of manager of customer service and Target 100, a program that works toward 100% patient, employee and physician satisfaction.

The new members join chief financial officer, Tracy Kiritani, who Castro recruited last summer based on their previous work together at Saint Agnes Medical Center.

“Clovis Community now has a complete management team that is positioned to lead the organization toward achieving its full potential,” said Castro.

Oakhurst & Reflections on Giving!

2007-06-15T17:29:00Z

I feel blessed to have served in the role of CEO at Clovis Community Medical Center (CCMC) for nearly 17 months now and continue to be amazed each and every day by the generousity (care and giving!) of so many people and organizations!

In case you didn't know, the Oakhurst facility is an extension of the CCMC license. I am fortunate to have Jo Ann Weston on my management team serving as the leader for our Oakhurst facility. The Oakhurst Team is comprised of an extremely "(com)passionate" group of individuals, including staff and physicians, that serve the mountain commmunites in and around Oakhurst. I am honored to be able to work with such great people to fullfill our mission.

I was awstruck when I arrived at my office early this morning (June 15, 2007) to learn of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and County of Madera have agreed to donate $700,000 to our Oakhurst facility! This gift will be used to add new state-of-the art mammography and imaging equipment, plus modernize the building in which care is provided to almost 8,000 people annually.

As I pause to reflect on my "daily gratitude list," I am EXTREMELY GRATEFUL to Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi and the County of Madera for their generous gift that will assist us in providing quality care to the mountain communities we serve.

Chills from Peters Foundation

2007-02-19T19:27:00Z

Have you ever attended an event where you actually get CHILLS of JOY? The Clovis Community and Foundation management teams had the honor of personally thanking Pete Peters for the extremely generious gift that was recently provided by the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Foundations. Please see http://medwatchtoday.com/693.htm. It is truly a privledge to spend time with Pete and his neice Janice whom are such genuine, compassionate, and generous people! I actually experienced a CHILL of JOY when Pete walked around the room to personally introduce himself to each of the 20 or so members of Clovis and Foundation management team.