Talking Shop with Debbie Linnes, Southeast Missouri Hospital president and CEO

Southeast Missouri Hospital's newest president and CEO assumed her role Sept. 28. The native of LeSeuer, Minn., Debbie Linnes has nearly 30 years of experience in health care, including CEO at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., from 2006 to 2008. Other jobs include senior vice president of a regional health-care system in Colorado for the Sisters of Charity Leavenworth and a leadership position for a member of the Catholic Healthcare West system in California.

Linnes and her husband, Steve, have three children, Dana, a sophomore at Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn., Derek, a sophomore at Notre Dame Regional School in Cape Girardeau, and Drew, a fifth grader at Nell Holcomb Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Linnes holds a bachelor in science degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and a master's degree in health administration from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles.

Business reporter Brian Blackwell sat down with Linnes last week to learn more of her rise to the hospital's newest head administrator.

Q: You have almost 30 years of experience in the health care industry. What job most prepared you for your current position as the new leader of Southeast Missouri Hospital?

A: I've had an interest in health care since I was in middle school at LeSeuer [Minn.], when I volunteered at the local hospital. It was a small community hospital responsible for serving a large area. I came to appreciate the role hospitals play in the lives of those living in the region. I saw first-hand how quality care for the patients plays a vital role and drives the success of the hospital and the community. My clinical background and leadership experience has positioned me to successfully lead complex health care organizations.

Q: How difficult was it leaving Joplin, Mo., and what moment did you know that being the CEO of Southeast Missouri Hospital was for you?

A: [My husband] Steve and I have always become very involved in the communities we've lived in. We believe strongly in our responsibility to give back to the community in which we serve. We had many friends and colleagues in Joplin and look forward to reestablishing those relationships here in Southeast Missouri. While we were happy for this opportunity in Cape Girardeau, it was bittersweet to leave our friends in Joplin.

As I participated with the governing board of Southeast through the search process I was impressed by the quality of community leadership present. The time and involvement that they put in through the national search demonstrated to me the support and commitment for Southeast Hospital. I was very impressed at the caliber of the medical staff and the employees who daily deliver exceptional care at Southeast. The organization's commitment to excellence was a key component of my decision to join Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Q: In your news conference in late August, you said independent hospitals have more flexibility to respond to both the community and a changing health care scene. Please expand on that.

A: Health care is very much a local and regional phenomina. Each community and region has its own unique health care needs. Being Southeast Missouri's community hospital, Southeast has a unique responsibility and commitment to serve the region's health care needs. Our responsibility is to partner with the community and medical staff to ensure the community has access to the highest quality health care. Our focus is to provide world-class health care services, minimizing the need for patients to travel out of the area. Southeast has demonstrated that through the national awards we've received.

A free-standing, not-for-profit health care organization has the ability to be agile and responsive to the community's needs. We partner with our community board and medical staff to be the leading health care organization for Southeast Missouri.

Q: What would you like to see happen the most at Southeast Missouri Hospital?

A: I'm very excited about what lies in store for the future for Southeast Missouri Hospital. We have to plan for any significant changes on the horizon with health care reform. We can't anticipate what those changes will be. What we do know is health care organizations will be held accountable that we deliver the best patient outcomes at the lowest cost level for our community. Southeast Missouri Hospital is well-positioned to meet national benchmarks for quality, as well as providing value to the region.

Q: The Regional Cancer Center is expected to open by December 2010. The two-level hospital will include a pharmacy, cafe, on-site lab, office space for physicians, resource library, pastoral care office, meeting rooms and educational and counseling services. Technology will include high dose-rate internal radiation therapy, MRIs and a system for digital imaging.

The building will also have an infusion center with chairs placed along a wall of windows that will give patient access to natural light while they are undergoing chemotherapy. How do you think this cancer center will impact the area?

A: The cancer center will be a very exciting resource for the region. Southeast has recruited world-class physicians who will be guiding patient care through the cancer center. Cancer is one of the most prevelent diseases in our country. It will be one of the first of its kind in the region, integrating all the important components of cancer care in one location for the convenience of our patients. The center will provide resources to the patient closer to home, minimizing their need to travel out of the area during a difficult time for care.

Q: How difficult it is to be an administrator in the economic times we're experiencing?

A: There's never been a more exciting time to be in health care leadership. Being a health care leader, having our entire country focused on health care and health care delivery creates an exciting platform for change. We know we will be seeing change in our future. We don't know the specifics of that change but what we do know is Southeast Missouri Hospital will be here now and in the future to serve as the region's leading health care organization.

Q: Your predecesor Jim Wente was an avid fan of geese. What do you like to do in your free time?

A: A lot of my hobbies revolve around my children's activities. Steve and I are from Minnesota, so we're avid boaters. I'm looking forward to spending some time on the area lakes. Also, I hope to spend some time hiking and biking as well. I haven't had time to make it to any of the trails out here, but I've heard so many great things about them that Steve and I can't wait to give them a try.

Q: In a position like yours, family must be important to your success. How important of a role do they play?

A: Any effective leader is only as successful as the family around him or her. I'm lucky to have such a loving and supportive husband and children who encourage and stand by me.

Q: Who is that one person who influenced you the most?

A: My father, Dunrith Waund. He was an engineer with Green Giant. He is a man who is very creative in looking at business solutions with the public. He had the idea years ago to grow fresh produce in various parts of the world so consumers could have it year-round. He helped develop technology that would infuse nitrogen to keep it fresh. But the company wasn't interested in the idea at the time, so it never came to fruition while my dad was with the company. My dad took early retirement and joined my mother in real estate practice near Minneapolis, where they evolved to be a top 10 Realtor in the Minneapolis area. We all know what happened eventually when other companies thought to do the same thing my dad wanted Green Giant to do. That's one example of the type of creative strategic thinking that's been a role model for me.

Q: What are some other jobs you've done besides health care?

A: When I saw living in LeSeuer during high school I worked for Green Giant in several capacities including in their plant operations as well as their quality improvement laboratories. That was my first exposure to the important role quality plays in any organization. I've carried that mindset throughout my health care leadership career. My experience has been developing world class patient care services with organizations. For example, at St. John's in Joplin, we were one of five hospitals nationally to receive three top 100 hospital awards in one year. I look forward to partnering with Southeast to continue their commitment to excellence.

Q: You've been in town for a couple of weeks. What is something you'd like to say to the community as a whole?

A: I'm very excited to be here and part of the Southeast Missouri Hospital team. The organization is exceptional and enjoys being recognized nationally for outstanding quality. And I'm glad to be partnering with the community as we move Southeast into an exciting future.

Steve and I are impressed at the exceptional resources of the community, quality of the educational systems and the generosity of the people who live here. I'm impressed at the awards the community has won recently including being recognized as a top retirement community as well as a top smaller-sized community. To attain that level of performance doesn't happen by accident. It takes exceptional leadership. I look forward to joining that community leadership as we partner to meet the Southeast Missouri region's health care needs.