New BroMenn president takes hands on approach [The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.]

Nov. 15--NORMAL -- Colleen Kannaday is helping to build a new BroMenn and she's not doing it from behind her desk.

"My style is to be out on the floor, in the departments, meeting with staff," said Kannaday, president of Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and Advocate Eureka Hospital. "I pride myself on being approachable and wanting to hear from our associates, doctors and community members."

For a little more than a year, Kannaday has led the 2,000 employees of two hospitals, a physician network, joint ventures and area operations of Advocate Medical Group.

"I'd say she gets an A-plus," said Dr. Dory Jarzabkowski, a cardiologist with Illinois Heart & Lung Associates, Normal, and president of BroMenn's medical staff.

Kannaday had to assemble a new executive team after several executives decided to move on. She has done that while improving communication with the medical staff, dealing with daily issues and beginning a strategic planning process, Jarzabkowski said.

Kannaday said building collaboration and mutual respect is important as Advocate BroMenn and Advocate Eureka transition to a new chapter.

For the past couple of years, the hospitals have focused on integrating into Advocate Health Care and on building projects. Eureka opened an addition early this year. Next summer, BroMenn is scheduled to open its medical center addition and its outpatient center on East Empire Street, Bloomington.

Up next is the focus of a strategic planning process that began two months ago and includes doctors, governance council members, hospital and Advocate Health Care leaders and community representatives.

Kannaday hopes to have a strategic plan in place by the end of the first quarter 2012. The plan should guide Advocate BroMenn and Advocate Eureka decision-making for the next three to five years.

"We want to define where we will be putting our time, energy and resources to best position ourselves to meet the needs of the community," she said.

The strategic plan will drive how BroMenn will use space vacated after the mother-baby and critical care addition open next summer, she said.

As health care reform takes effect, care must be provided in the most cost-effective manner possible. To that end, BroMenn is hiring emergency department case managers, who will connect discharged emergency department patients with the follow-up care they need, Kannaday said.

In addition, Advocate doctors' offices are considering expanding their hours to reduce the number of patients going to the emergency department.

Meanwhile, Advocate Eureka is looking to recruit additional specialists (orthopedic, gastroenterology, neurology and OB/GYN), provide more community education and health screenings, partner with area clergy members and expand inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation.

In addition, Eureka is considering replacing its two operating rooms in two years and replacing the 25-bed inpatient unit in four years, Kannaday said.

"I see a lot of positive changes," Jarzabkowski said.

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