Additionally, Willetts’ mom’s household was from New Kensington, and her household recurrently drove by means of Uniontown from her hometown of Petersburg, W.Va., en route to go to. 

“I’ve known about Uniontown for a long time. I think the Laurel Highlands are so beautiful. I love to hike, mountain bike and to ski, and my family and I are excited to be in this area,” stated Willetts.

Willetts took the helm on the 145-bed Uniontown Hospital within the fall. She additionally was tapped to function WVU Medicine Executive Vice President of well being system integration and enterprise improvement.

Willetts has greater than twenty years of expertise at well being techniques in Virginia and Pennsylvania, most just lately serving as Senior Vice President and President of the East Region for WellSpan Health for the previous 6 1/2 years.

Willetts stated that, as a local of West Virginia, she has “always had a heart for all things WVU.”

She has lengthy stored a watch on WVU Medicine and its growth – the well being system operates in all however 14 of West Virginia’s 55 counties, and has clinics in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio – and acknowledged she is happy in regards to the progress of Uniontown Hospital and its mission to offer “exceptional care, close to home” because it turned part of the well being system in 2021.

“I have followed the growth and success of the organization for quite some time. What made me choose WVU Medicine was our mission. We work in healthcare because we want to improve people’s health. But our mission also is to change the health trajectory of the communities we serve,” defined Willetts. “The communities WVU serves are not always affluent or historically have had the best access to health care, so we bring services to the community, rather than expect patients to come to Morgantown. We want to provide an adequate depth and breadth of quality services and specialty care so patients don’t have to travel a long distance for healthcare.”

Since Uniontown Hospital was acquired by WVU Medicine, it has recruited greater than 60 physicians for its workers of major care physicians and specialists, and added dozens of companies, all with the aim of enhancing entry and lowering the necessity of sufferers touring to Pittsburgh or surrounding areas for care.

Among the specialty care it provides are ladies’s care, pediatrics, orthopedics, pulmonary and demanding care, most cancers care, cardiology, common surgical procedure, and ear, nostril and throat.

The hospital has been acknowledged for excellence in stroke and diabetes care, just lately opened a brand new urology clinic, and goals to renew labor and supply companies someday in 2024. 

“Our teams are engaged, highly knowledgeable, super friendly, kind and caring and provide excellent healthcare. They are our front door into the community,” stated Willetts. 

Willetts assumed the position of President and CEO following the departure of Dr. Davis Hess, who serves as President and CEO of WVU Medicine United Hospital Center.

Willetts additionally has held management roles on the University of Virginia Health System in Virginia, and Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, Va. 

She has a masters diploma in healthcare administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. 

Willetts believes her position is to assist leaders and crew members at WVU Medicine to succeed in their full potential in order that the well being system offers secure, high-quality look after sufferers. 

She additionally emphasizes the significance of tradition in recruiting and sustaining a extremely expert workers, particularly amid the persevering with nationwide nursing scarcity.

“I don’t think any industry or business is immune to staffing challenges. Healthcare workers have lots of options for work. Our goal is to differentiate ourselves through culture. Our goal is to be the best place for people to work,” stated Willetts. “It’s our responsibility to create and maintain competitive wages and benefits, and to provide a work environment where people are kind and feel well-supported and cared for.”

And three years after the primary COVID-19 case was confirmed within the United States, “COVID is part of our regular operating processes,” stated Willetts.

She counseled the hospital and its management, which acquired state recognition for caring for sufferers and main immunization efforts.

“This hospital was disproportionately impacted by COVID, and had one of the highest hospitalization rates in the state. I commend the leadership team for taking the lead for the care of our really sick patients while promoting the public health side of it,” Willetts stated. 

For Willetts, what makes WVU Medicine priceless is its 23 Member System Hospitals anchored by its flagship tutorial medical middle, Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., and its 5 tutorial institutes.

“One of WVU Medicine’s strengths is its large network of community hospitals partnered with its leading educational and clinical institutes such as The Rockefeller Neurocience Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine Childrens, all focused on innovation and transforming care,” stated Willetts.