About the Expert
About the ExpertScott’s healthcare career began as an administrative fellow at Baylor Scott & White Health. Subsequent roles include the Baylor University Medical Center CoO and the first president of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney. He holds a Master of Science degrees in healthcare and business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare.
Q&A
What interested you about a career in healthcare?
Early in my career, I was working at an accounting firm and served several healthcare clients. Healthcare makes up one-fifth of our economy. It is a very complex industry, and I loved the challenge — I still love the challenge! I realized for the first time that healthcare was the ideal setting to put my passion for leading others and working in teams to good use. That was the beginning of a journey and I’m just as passionate about it today as I was more than 20 years ago. I am so grateful to work beside people from all walks of life — all who care about making a difference in the lives of others.
What growth has Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney experienced since opening in 2012?
When I first supported the opening of this hospital in 2012, I knew we would need to be aggressive with our growth strategy to keep up with the market and meet the evolving needs of our patients and the expanding community. The hospital was originally constructed with extra physical space ready for build-out, and today, as expected, we have strategically grown into the space. We’ve increased our number of beds, built out the fourth floor, expanded the ER, and evolved and enhanced our service lines, including women’s, oncology, and orthopedic services.
Where do you see the hospital heading over the next decade, and how do you plan to keep up with the evolving healthcare industry?
We look forward to maintaining our legacy of innovation, expansion, and continual improvement. Staying nimble and keeping pace with the area’s growth is just one aspect. We always strive to stay ahead of the curve.
Now more than ever, patients seek ease of accessibility and frictionless care. At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney, we have a portfolio of assets that address patient care. The hospital is just one of the assets that play an integral role. We expect to see increased accessibility of services via digital resources such as the MyBSWHealth app and telemedicine. Additionally, healthcare delivery will become increasingly localized, and we’ll see a reintroduction of home-based care integrated into the system.
What should people consider when choosing a hospital for their care or their family’s care?
Brand reputation is important, but also consider the quality of the clinical services provided. For instance, Baylor Scott & White McKinney was included in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital Rankings last year in multiple specialties. We’ve also achieved Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing practice and quality patient care. And we’re a Level III Maternal designated facility, which signifies we provide care for pregnant and postpartum patients with complex medical, surgical, and/or obstetrical conditions.
Overall, my advice is to step back and view the big picture. Look at the total hospital ecosystem and the continuum of care it can provide versus a single data point in time.
