The opening of Sarah Bush Lincoln on Mother’s Day,
1977 represented the hopes, dreams and future of an entire
community.
In the four decades that have since passed, Sarah Bush Lincoln has
distinguished itself time and time again as a healthcare provider,
employer and community partner. In celebration of Sarah Bush
Lincoln’s 40th anniversary, we asked several of our leaders to
reflect on the health system’s rich history – and its future.
In what way has SBL stayed the same over 40 years?
“The community leaders who conceptualized Sarah Bush Lincoln
were committed to making sure that anyone who came through
the doors, regardless of their ability to pay for services, would be
cared for. That philosophy remains central to our mission today,”
SBL President and CEO Jerry Esker said. “And being independent
offers many advantages. We can respond very quickly to
situations that arise and change processes to make improvements.
We don’t have to ask a corporate office.”
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may 2017
How is SBL most significantly different?
Steve Wente, board chairperson, said, “Our continued success has
led to Sarah Bush Lincoln being the largest employer in the area,
creating numerous employment opportunities for nearly 2,400
community members, up from 200 in 1977. Our vision is to be a
leading healthcare system in the nation by providing quality care
and outstanding patient service. We’re going to remain a strong,
independent healthcare system where decisions are made locally.”
Esker added, “The best way to recruit physicians to a rural area is
to offer an employment model; and I credit Gary Barnett [Sarah
Bush Lincoln CEO from 1998 to 2011] for recognizing this early
because it’s been key to our success. In a rural setting, it’s unusual
to have the breadth and depth of specialties we offer, but that
keeps our patients here at home. These factors contribute to our
financial success and our ability to remain independent. Sarah
Bush Lincoln ranks nationally in the top decile on many metrics
that measure the qu