Healthcare expert and best-selling author Quint Studer praises community of Carlinville at CAH meeting

“You have so much going for you”

Edited by Jackson Wilson

Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics (CAH&C) welcomed healthcare expert Quint Studer to address a gathering of local leaders May 30. The event included representatives from the CAH&C’s board and executive team, department managers from South Central Hospital Alliance (SCHA) hospitals, and members of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce. The SCHA consists of four collaborating hospitals – Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics, Hillsboro Health, Pana Community Hospital, and Jersey Community HealthCare.

Studer’s presentation focused on fostering a positive work environment for healthcare professionals, which in turn leads to better patient experiences. He commended CAH&C for its advancements in local care and positive workplace culture, recognizing that the organization already utilizes many of his recommended strategies.

“If you look at the numbers, the government measures patient experience and you’re ranked in the top 10 percent of all the hospitals in the country,” said Struder. “This is comparing you, not just to small hospitals, but all of them. Most healthcare today has turnover of 20 to 30 percent. As a patient, I do want a body to take care of me but it would be nice if it was an experienced body. So, if I have so many new people, I’m glad you got them, but I would rather have experience. You have a hospital system that’s worried about the future, which is more population health versus whether or not you can stay in business. You have a strong healthcare system and then the cream of the crop is that you also have post-secondary training. Most places don’t have that.”

Notably, Studer praised Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics and how it actively recruits and retains its staff. With low turnover rates and employee satisfaction reported to be in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the country CAH&C has become a leader in innovative practices for employee retention Their practices stand as an example of how CAH&C contributes to a vibrant community by creating opportunities for its workforce.

Studer also discussed strategies for strengthening Carlinville’s community as a whole. He highlighted the economic advantages Carlinville has as a thriving community and how to further develop businesses that create a vibrant community.

“Even though there’s obviously some things to improve, you have a downtown that doesn’t have a lot of vacant buildings,” said Struder. “That’s great because there’s a lot of small towns you drive through and feel bad for because there’s so much closing down. You have to keep building up the muscle of entrepreneurship and helping these businesses, especially small ones You’re way ahead of most. You still have a local newspaper. You have locally-owned banks. Most communities your size don’t have those banks, or locally-owned healthcare or locally-owned media. You have all of those.”

Studer added there there were three groups of talent – young people that don’t have children but want a vibrant downtown, older people that also want a vibrant downtown while also maintaining a safe environment and the people in the middle that want a high-quality school district. He said Carlinville had that as well, not only from Primary to High School but furthermore citing a career-oriented college like Blackburn.

“You have so much going for you,” Studer said in his ending statement. “The question is…how are you going to maximize it? You’ve got the legacy of Carlinville sitting in your hands right now. Don’t take it for granted but rather optimize the heck out of it.”

About Quint Studer

Born in 1951, Studer was raised by hard working parents in La Grange, Illinois, a suburban Chicago community located 13 miles west of the city.

Studer’s father worked 41 years for General Motors in a variety of roles. His mother was a nursery school teacher. Quint overcame numerous challenges as a child, including a speech impediment that caused him to often leave grade school classrooms for therapy. He struggled to advance in the early grade school classrooms.

The hardships affected his academic performance and when he graduated in 1969 from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, he did not have a college option until the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater accepted him and provided an opportunity.

Studer took that opportunity to earn a master’s degree and began a career as a special education teacher. From that point, he launched a career as a hospital administrator, rising to CEO, then forming his own company, The Studer Group, which led to beginning an ultra-successful career as business entrepreneur, community leader and minor league baseball owner.

He overcame a battle in the mid-1980’s against alcoholism and his future took off with success in healthcare administration, including President at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, FL. All the while, he became a best-selling author, including publication of more than a dozen books, and is now a nationally renown leader in the health care industry and community development expert. As a professional baseball owner with two teams, he serves on an Minor League Baseball operations committee with Major League Baseball executives.