βThis is a super exciting time in health care,β says Nancy Johnson, who officially took over as CEO of El Rio Community Health Center in late October.
βThe worlds of health care and public health have merged,β she said.
As a result, preventive care is now seen as the best way to provide quality service while cutting costs.
El Rioβs 24/7 nurse triage program helps patients avoid costly trips to the emergency room, she said. The triage team at El Rio has lowered hospitalizations by 30 percent.
Advances in information technology allow health care providers to use real-time data to provide customized care to patients, she said, noting that El Rioβs new building next to the downtown Manning House will house the IT department.
When federally qualified health centers, such as El Rio, emerged in the 1960s under President Lyndon Johnson, the centers served people βwith nowhere else to go,β she said.
These days the centers offer a wide array of services in addition to traditional healthcare, such as pharmacies, dental care and even Zumba fitness classes, she said.
Kathy Byrne retired as El Rioβs CEO in July, and Johnson, who served as COO for six years, took the reins while the board of directors searched for Byrneβs replacement.
In the end, the board members decided unanimously that Johnson was the best candidate for the job, said El Rio board member Pete Reisinger.
βShe was the best fit,β he said.
Johnson has a masterβs degree in nursing from the University of Illinois. Since she moved to Tucson 32 years ago, she has added a masterβs degree in marketing and a Ph.D. in health sciences, both from the University of Arizona.
