(KIWA Staff Photo)
Orange City, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Orange City Area Health System CEO Chris Sietstra says listening, collaboration and long-term planning will guide the health system’s next chapter.
Sietstra recently discussed his approach to leadership and his vision for the future. Rather than entering the position with every decision already made, Sietstra says he wants to draw on the experience of employees throughout the organization.
Sietstra previously served as the health system’s director of finance. That role gave him experience in several behind-the-scenes areas, including health information, insurance reimbursement, information technology, and the financial side of providing patient care.
He says his background has also taught him that no single person can fully understand every part of healthcare.
A Collaborative Leadership Style
Sietstra describes his leadership style as highly collaborative, with an emphasis on surrounding himself with knowledgeable people and bringing their perspectives together. He says his priority will be strengthening relationships throughout the organization.
That includes preserving the strongest parts of the health system’s existing culture while continuing to improve it. Sietstra says he plans to spend time meeting employees, physicians, and members of the community while earning their trust.
Orange City Area Health System has more than 650 employees and serves more than 20,000 unique patients each year.
Planning for the Next Decade
Sietstra says the information gathered from those conversations will help guide a new strategic plan covering the next three, five, and ten years.
Keeping Healthcare Close to Home
A major part of that planning will involve determining how Orange City Area Health System can continue making procedures, specialists, and other medical services available locally. Sietstra says being able to receive more care close to home provides significant value to patients and their families.
The challenge will be identifying the services the region needs and then determining how to turn long-term goals into achievable short-term steps.
A Hands-On Approach
Sietstra also describes himself as a hands-on leader willing to learn directly from the people providing care. While helping with the health system’s implementation of the da Vinci surgical robot, Sietstra put on scrubs and entered the operating room to better understand how the technology would be used.
Sietstra takes over following Marty Guthmiller’s more than three decades of leadership at the health system. Sietstra says he has also benefited from working closely with Guthmiller during the transition.
Sietstra says the first six to 12 months of his tenure will be devoted largely to listening, building trust and working with the senior leadership team and board to establish the health system’s future direction.
He says the ultimate goal is to position Orange City Area Health System to continue responding to the changing needs of its patients and the communities it serves.
