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Dave Romano, MD, CMO: Challenges and Expectations

April 11, 2009

Dave Romano, MD Image Beginning my role as Chief Medical Officer for Premier Health Care Services, I feel both excitement and varying degrees of trepidation. I have never in my life had an office. I used to keep a briefcase in my car trunk, and for a while, I shared a desk with Jana Banks and Guy Newland in a room with other hospital personnel. It was “cozy.” My most prominent realization, however, is the great privilege I have in continuing to work with the outstanding physicians, medical directors, and support staff I will enjoy in this new position. In preparation for my official start up in May, I have spoken with many individuals throughout the corporation. All have displayed extensive knowledge, dedication, hard work, compassion, and cooperation. As I further define my goals (and work list), I see several important areas of emphasis:

Monitoring the health of each contract site on a real-time basis to promote the best care for our patients, best practice environment for our providers, and optimum results for our hospital clients.
Utilizing a robust team approach when coordinating the talents of the site Medical Directors and Regional Medical Directors in the early identification of problems and rapidly solving them.
Building working relationships with the Medical Directors to bring the full spectrum of Premier’s many positive resources for their use whenever needed.
Growing the expertise and leadership capabilities of all our providers and staff.
Assembling a reconfigured Regional Medical Director team to build upon the great works accomplished by my predecessors.

Today’s Emergency Medicine is full of issues and challenges. In Premier’s 2009 Winter Newsletter, Dr. John Lyman presented—in a very real and comprehensive manner–the state of manpower shortages within the specialty of Emergency Medicine. This topic certainly makes us pause, but we need to consider many other issues, as well. We also need to focus on the many happy characteristics of Emergency Medicine practice and business.

We perform a valuable service for our patients and communities. Local leaders and leaders in Washington D.C. view what we do every day as a crucial role. Emergency Department clinicians are fewer in number relative to other specialties, never mind doing so well and for a long while. Both the clinicians and those in our group who support and assist our clinical work in the ED are rare and valuable.

Therefore, as I engage in the role of Chief Medical Officer, I am well aware of the many challenges we will face. My challenge is to support, encourage, assist, and enhance our ED operations. Grateful to those whose work has built our group before my landing in this office, continually most impressed by all those around me in Premier, and confident of our continued success and relevance even during these uncertain times, I can’t wait to get started.

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