Valley Hospital to announce long-term strategic plan

PALMER - Valley Hospital is hosting an open community forum to formally present its long-range strategic goals Oct. 5.

The forum is in classroom B of Valley Hospital Medical Center in Wasilla. It will run from noon to 1 p.m.

The long-range strategic plan, approved by the operating board of directors, lists goals that include recruiting more specialists to the Valley, adding service opportunities and capabilities, improving the hospital's overall image and increasing market share.

Dave Pfeifer, chief executive officer of Valley Hospital, and Dave Ping of Hamilton HMC will share the steps that administrators, board members and employees will take to prioritize and reconfigure administration and facilities to meet the expanding needs of the community.

The Valley Hospital Open Community Forum includes lunch and is open to the public, but R.S.V.P. is required.

Interested people should call Vera Hershey at 352-2861 to R.S.V.P.

During the last six months, Valley Hospital has sought input from area residents and community leaders to develop a plan that is responsive to the needs of the community.

Hamilton HMC is a firm specializing in strategic planning for health-care organizations.

The firm has led Valley Hospital through the process.

More than 200 Valley residents have given input, and Ping has interviewed more than 60 physicians, employees and community leaders for their input.

He also has led 11 community forums and conducted a market assessment involving data collection and analysis of both community needs and VHA statistics.

Copies of the Valley Hospital strategic plan will be handed out at the forum.

Copies are also available by calling Hershey at 352-2861.