MADISON — It’s been nearly nine months into Sue Anderson’s time as the new regional president for SSM Health Wisconsin.
“I love it. I really do love it,” she said of her work here so far.
During a recent interview, she said her transition into the role has been “pretty easy” so far because of two “major things”.
She credited “the people” as one of them and “how welcoming and warm everyone is” both at SSM Health and in the community.
The other “major thing” was her coming to SSM Health because of its mission, vision, and values.
“Whenever you enter into a new organization, you think you know what you’re doing to get, but then you get in and reality sets in [but] the people here at SSM Health live and breathe those mission, vision, values on a daily basis and that makes all of our work so much easier because we have the same vision for what we want for our patients, their families, and our communities.”
Coming to Madison
Prior to her arrival in Madison, Anderson said she was at a point in her life and career where she was looking for a new position.
“I knew that what I wanted was to go to an organization that was very mission-driven,” she said, citing her previous roles had been that as well.
Most recently, she served as president of Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.
“I can’t imagine getting up in the morning and being excited about work if I didn’t have that vision for where we’re going in the future . . . SSM really stood out in that regard,” she said.
Growing up in New Hampshire with her mom as a nurse, Anderson “always had health care in the back of my mind.”
Her career after college found her in health care consulting for 21 years “working at some of the top medical centers around the country.”
She said she “loved it,” adding that health care is very challenging, dealing with scarce resources and great need.
Meeting the challenges of COVID, staffing
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, especially those in health care the past couple of years.
Anderson called its challenges “immense”.
“The biggest thing we’re dealing with right now is that impact that it’s hard on our staff and our workforce in general.”
She noted that pre-pandemic, there were high levels of burnout among healthcare staff “and [COVID] has just exacerbated that.”
With the challenges of being short-staffed, Anderson said, “We’ve asked people to do so much,” adding that “we still have patients to care for.”
“What we’re working on is ‘How do we help our staff and team recover from that while still providing the care that is necessary?’”
She said the staff shortages are “everywhere” and added that a lot of good people have retired and they need to bring new people in for those positions.
She said SSM Health is working to increase its talent acquisitions.
Anderson added that nursing and support staff for the nurses are two specific areas of need.
Connecting with the community
Anderson said she’s “spent a lot of time trying to get out into the community” including recently joining the Chamber of Commerce Board.
“I’ve spent time with my peers here . . . to understand their challenges, how we can work together and partner.”
She called Madison and its surrounding areas very “collaborative”.
Anderson has met with many non-profit leaders in the community as well.
“I’m trying to meet the people that will really make our work easier and really create synergies as we work together.”
Keeping the traditions alive
The Catholic health tradition of SSM Health goes back to the 1870s with the Sisters of St. Mary’s first hospital opening five years after their arrival in the U.S.
Anderson noted that each meeting they have always started with a reflection “that can be in the Catholic tradition” or in other traditions.
“Our mission, vision, values are alive as well” every day, she said. “I see it embedded in our work.”
SSM Health’s facilities in the Diocese of Madison include SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, in Janesville, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, SSM Health Monroe Hospital, and SSM Health St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison.