By Lawrence Ward, MD, MPH, MACP
Every conversation about the future of health care eventually revolves around one key question: Will patients have timely access to the outstanding medical care that they need, want and deserve?
At Holy Cross Medical Group, we think about that question every day. We have the privilege of building on a remarkable 71-year legacy of serving South Florida and as part of Trinity Health, a national organization of 92 hospitals. We are proud to be the region’s only Catholic, not-for-profit health system. Our mission calls us not only to provide outstanding clinical care, but to care for every patient with compassion, dignity and respect, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
That mission continues to attract physicians who want their careers to have both professional excellence and deeper purpose. Doctors, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and the full spectrum of health care professionals choose to work at Holy Cross Health because they believe in providing care in the spirit of the Gospel by treating every patient—regardless of faith, income level, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation—in a compassionate, empathetic, comfortable, hopeful and healing environment.
South Florida is an extraordinary place to live, but it is also one of the nation’s most competitive health care markets. While advances in technology, new treatments and innovative models of care continue to transform medicine, none of them replace the importance of having exceptional physicians caring for patients in our community.
Demand for health care continues to rise as our population grows and ages, yet the supply of physicians has not kept pace, and is in fact declining. Every health system is competing to recruit outstanding physicians and advanced practice providers in order to deliver top quality care close to home. Across the country, health systems face growing challenges in recruiting and retaining physicians for a variety of reasons. Today’s physicians are more mobile and less apt to commit to a single job for their entire career, as they often did in the past. This frustrates patients who trusted a specific doctor with their health for years, but must cycle through physicians every time one leaves the practice and/or area.
Recruitment today is also about far more than offering a competitive salary. Many experienced physicians are approaching retirement, while younger physicians increasingly seek to join organizations that support professional growth, teamwork, wellness, a healthy balance between work and family life, and feel connected to a mission that extends beyond medicine itself.
Retention is just as important as recruitment. Patients value continuity and communities are strongest when physicians build long-term relationships with the people they serve. At Holy Cross Health, we prioritize creating a culture where physicians feel respected, listened to, supported and empowered. This ultimately translates into better patient care and healthier communities.
As our community continues to grow, so must the breadth of services we offer. We are continually evaluating opportunities to expand specialty and surgical care, strengthen primary care and develop programs that address the evolving needs of our patients. Whether that means bringing new specialists to our community, enhancing multidisciplinary care or improving access through technology, every decision is guided by one objective: delivering exceptional care where, when and in what manner patients need it.
The future of health care in South Florida depends on organizations that are willing to invest not only in facilities and technology, but in the physicians who dedicate their lives to caring for others. We are optimistic that by remaining committed to our mission, investing in our people and continuing to earn the trust of our community, Holy Cross Health will continue to serve South Florida with excellence for many years to come.
Dr. Lawrence Ward is Chief Medical Officer of Holy Cross Medical Group.
