Building a healthier
Williamson County relationship with Scott &
My
White Healthcare didn ’ t start in the usual place , like an emergency department , clinic , or patient room . It actually began in the parking lot of a truck stop in Jarrell , Texas . That was where I met a realtor in 1996 to deliver a contract for the purchase of 100 acres of land , where Scott & White Hospital - Round Rock and the multispecialty clinic now stand . At the time I didn ’ t know much about the system .
I had been in the business of land brokerage and development in Texas since I arrived here from Louisiana with my wife and two daughters in 1971 . I graduated with a degree in city planning and landscape architecture from the University of Illinois and obtained my first job as the director of planning in Alexandria , Louisiana . It didn ’ t take long for me to determine that government work was not my forte , so I transitioned into a career in land development .
During the mid- to late-1960s , developers would “ hitchhike ” ideas from California and bring them across the country . I often traveled from Louisiana to Austin , Texas , to meet with colleagues and hear about the latest trends in commercial , residential , industrial , educational , and retail development . I would then take those ideas back to Louisiana .
I always enjoyed visiting Austin , and in 1971 I received a call from a builder there who asked me if I would consider serving as a project manager to help develop 800 acres he had just purchased . We packed up and moved to Texas .
Over the next several decades , I began developing major mixed-use properties , including Anderson Mill and Wells Branch in Austin , and The Settlement , The Oaklands , and Forest Creek Golf Course and subdivision in Round Rock .
Although I sold that 100 acres of land to Scott & White in 1996 , the system held on to the property for some time before deciding to begin building . About a month after the initial plans for construction were approved , I received an invitation from [ then ] President and CEO Al Knight , MD , to meet . That was when he invited me to serve on the board .
He explained that since they were expanding , they needed representation from Williamson County . Although I was basically clueless about how healthcare worked , I had been active in the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce and was involved with the effort to create a community hospital in the city [ St . David ’ s Round Rock Medical Center ], so I was hopeful that I could make some contributions .
So much “ brain power ” As Scott & White began navigating the waters of development and construction in Round Rock , I was able to provide guidance and offer suggestions on how best to solve some of the challenges the system faced . “ Making things work ” becomes second nature to a developer , so in that respect I think my experience helped .
I serve with some pretty impressive folks on the board . While I ’ ve basically worked in small organizational operations , so many of Scott & White ’ s board members are from major institutions and businesses . There is so much brain power , so many individuals who are at the top of their game . It ’ s a pleasure to serve with them , and help make recommendations on how to raise the standards of care at Scott & White even higher .
I think the model we use to deliver care is incredible . Our physicians are able to concentrate on practicing medicine without worrying about the other administrative issues of healthcare like doctors in private practice have to do . At Scott & White , it ’ s all about the patients . We have created a culture that is constantly evolving in terms of patient safety and quality care .
I think Scott & White is poised to meet the challenges of healthcare reform , and I know that we will make every effort moving forward to work within the government guidelines . But I also know we will never lose sight of what is most important , and always has been — our patients . n
sw . org | November 12 The Catalyst 29