Opinion: Honorees have adapted, refined to deliver top care

Dr. Mark Walterskirchen

When people think of health care, they often picture a doctor’s office, a comforting interaction with a nurse or maybe a visit to a busy hospital. In truth, health care these days runs much wider and deeper, encompassing not only physicians and nurses, but physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, medical educators and administrators at every level – all working together to provide their communities with the support and care they need.

Moreover, as the memories of the pandemic begin to fade, health care has radically changed our model of delivery. In the past, the primary focus has been up-front care, with a physician and patient in a room together. But now, they may be hundreds of miles apart and meeting over the computer.

This year’s class of Springfield Business Journal Health Care Champions exemplifies not only this broad definition of health care, but also the changing landscape we all face. There are countless diverse and equally important interactions going on every single day that are critically important to the well-being of our patients, from work in the intensive care unit to managing supply chains and overseeing entire health care systems.

In addition, this exceptional class recognizes the work done for those whose voices often go unheard or misunderstood, those for whom issues of education or socioeconomic circumstance leave them reluctant to seek out health care in the first place.

In sum, the members of the 2024 class have adjusted, adapted and refined how to deliver the very best health care to everyone.

It is a privilege to honor and welcome these pioneers and trailblazers to the Springfield Business Journal Health Care Champions family. Thank you to SBJ for highlighting their extraordinary contributions and for continuing to support the health care community in southwest Missouri.

Dr. Mark Walterskirchen is a urologist and surgeon at Citizens Memorial Hospital. He can be reached at mark.walterskirchen@citizensmemorial.com.