Newsroom Andrea McKay: A reflection of my first year as hospital president Posted by Janell Patton on June 30, 2023 A year ago, Andrea McKay, her husband John, and their small dog Jim packed up their lives and moved 1,162 miles from Wyoming to Missouri to start a new journey. After accepting the position of President of Cox Monett Hospital, McKay, a senior health care leader with more than 26 years of experience, returned to the Midwest, where she was raised. Read on to learn more about McKay as she reflects on the numerous successes, difficulties, and chances that have come her way over the past year.๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น? I absolutely love the people at Cox Monett! I am so impressed with the caliber and knowledge of the team that works throughout the hospital and other CoxHealth facility locations. When I first joined the team a year ago, department leaders all said the same thing: We are family here and we take care of one another. It is the people that make the difference. Because of the people, it is a joy to come to work every day.๐๐ป ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ, ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐? Collaborative. The health system is actively rolling out a new strategic direction and five-year vision that includes a service line orientation to build upon our health care offerings. This type of approach requires an enormous amount of trust and teamwork. Because we are experts at collaboration, Cox Monett will thrive and excel in supporting this vision.๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ? We have a thriving community with a diverse population. Knowing the diversity of languages and cultures expanding in our service area, we have the opportunity to be more sensitive of how we communicate about our services and provide healthcare, educational activities, and opportunities.๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ? Similar to what families are experiencing around the country, our overall costs are increasing. It is important that we do not let expenses outpace our income. Provider recruitment challenges are real and hit close to home. In addition, there are multiple issues we are working through including 340B drug pricing, legislation, broadband/telehealth access, workforce shortages, and access to primary care.๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐? Rebuilding the anesthesia team with the outstanding providers we currently have has been a big success. This action is opening the door for the introduction of new specialties for our community.๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ, ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐? I joined the Kiwanis Club, participated in Leadership Monett, and I am now serving on the board of the Monett Area Chamber of Commerce. These groups have opened doors and given me opportunities to get to know the locals and resources available. I have visited the YMCA, the downtown boutiques, the new library, and I really like hanging out in the Monett South Park. The lovely park is a wonderful place for my husband and I to have lunch and stroll with our small dog. The Ozark Festival Orchestra is one of my favorite neighborhood events. You are missing a wonderful cultural experience if you have not enjoyed their performances. If performances were offered weekly, I would attend.