View Larger Image Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, spoke to employees about UAMS Health and other important topics during a Nov. 6 Town Hall meeting.
Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, spoke to employees about UAMS Health and other important topics during a Nov. 6 Town Hall meeting. Image by Lara Woloszyn

Chancellor Gives UAMS Health Update at Town Hall

By Yavonda Chase

| Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, shared more details about UAMS Health while Chief Financial Officer Amanda George gave an update on UAMS’ financials at the latest Town Hall meeting Nov. 6.

The day’s biggest announcements revolved around UAMS Health, the integrated statewide system of care that was announced last month.

Video of the Town Hall meeting

Steppe Mette, M.D., (center) was announced as senior vice chancellor for UAMS and chief executive officer for the Medical Center.

Steppe Mette, M.D., (center) was announced as senior vice chancellor for UAMS and chief executive officer for the Medical Center.Lara Woloszyn

“A lot of you are wondering what is UAMS Health. It is the clinical component of what we do in the state of Arkansas,” Patterson said. “UAMS Health brings together the Medical Center, our clinics, including those on our regional campuses, and our collaborations with other providers.”

Patterson told the crowd that Steppe Mette, M.D., who has been serving as interim CEO of the Medical Center, had been hired permanently for the position and named the senior vice chancellor of UAMS Health.

“Steppe has done a great job overseeing the hospital, and I know will do great things in this new role with UAMS Health,” Patterson said.

The chancellor also announced that all regional programs’ clinical activities will be centrally managed as part of UAMS Health, a move that will allow for greater continuity of care throughout the health system. As part of that effort, all UAMS providers will be using the same medical records system.

“No matter where you’re seen, a UAMS health care provider has access to all your medical records. That’s simple, but it’s a big deal,” he said.

All graduate medical education also will be linked together under a single umbrella with unified leadership.

Patterson also announced that UAMS was forming a Strategy Office, which will be led by Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., provost, chief strategy officer and senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

A video by Patterson, Gardner and Mette provided more information about the UAMS Health changes. An organizational chart was also produced.

All of these changes were part of Vision 2029, Patterson said.

Employees were encouraged to ask questions of Patterson and other senior leaders during the Town Hall.

Employees were encouraged to ask questions of Patterson and other senior leaders during the Town Hall.Lara Woloszyn

Also during the Town Hall, George, vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer, shared a rosy financial picture for UAMS. UAMS ended Fiscal Year 2019 with a positive margin of $39.9 million and submitted a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2020.

“One quarter into FY2020, we’re off to a really good start,” she said, noting that UAMS is $4.8 million ahead of budget and $10 million ahead of where we were at this time last year.

One of the reasons for this positive financial picture is because operating revenues are 5% above what was budgeted, she said.

During his report, Patterson praised the efforts to build equity at UAMS, including the commitment to paying all employees a living wage and the opening of Stocked & Reddie, which supports more than 2,000 students, employees and their families.

He noted that UAMS’ improved financial situation is how the institution is able to set a $14 an hour minimum wage, pay the one-time lump sum to other employees and make the capital improvements that are underway.

Patterson and other members of senior leadership spent about 20 minutes at the end of the hour answering questions about staffing levels, position reclassifications and pay increases.