Stronger Together: How Regionalization is Enhancing Health Care and Economic Vitality (Sponsored Content)

Collaboration is a time-tested strategy for growth, and health care leader Mercy is embracing a collaborative strategy through regionalization to better serve communities across southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. This approach is not only improving patient care but also contributing to the region’s economic development.

“We’ve always approached things at Mercy as communities outward and inwardly,” explains David Argueta, regional president of Mercy East and Southwest Communities. “There’s not ever a time that we haven’t been invited into a community.”

This community-centric philosophy has shaped Mercy’s growth from its roots in Springfield in 1891 to its current footprint in southwest Missouri covering 27,000 square miles. Regionalization allows Mercy to leverage its resources more effectively across diverse geographies.

“We’re stronger as a region,” Argueta emphasizes. “We’re extremely dedicated to the Joplin area, extremely dedicated to Lebanon, extremely dedicated to Springfield. But if we look at our provider group as one that serves 27,000 square miles, we’re stronger that way – stronger for the patient.”

This regional approach enables Mercy to offer a wider range of specialized services. Argueta cites orthopedics and sports medicine as an example: “We have an amazing orthopedic group in Galena, Kansas, that’s very complementary to the group in Springfield. Wherever you go for orthopedic care in this region, you can expect the highest level of excellence.”

Regionalization also helps Mercy tailor services to each community’s unique needs. “It allows us to look at each subset within a community. Lebanon has a larger senior population, so we put more focus on that, knowing that 45 minutes down the road, we have a great cardiac facility.”

For patients, this means greater access to specialized care and a wider pool of expert providers. It also attracts top-tier medical talent to the region. “If I know I’m joining a group of 30 of the most sub-specialized, highly talented physicians, that’s attractive,” Argueta notes. “People want to be associated with that.”

The benefits extend beyond health care. Mercy’s regional approach aligns with broader economic development efforts in the area. “When people are choosing to bring their businesses here, to live here, work here, play here – we are stronger as a region, we’re more attractive as a region,” Argueta says.

This collaborative mindset is key to successful regionalization. Rather than a top-down approach, Mercy emphasizes understanding each community’s unique culture and needs. “It takes a good amount of time to first seek to understand,” Argueta explains. “We’re not coming to say, ‘Here’s how to do things.’ We’re asking, ‘How do we serve the unique needs of each community in a coordinated way that ultimately benefits everyone we serve?’”

As Mercy’s regionalization efforts mature, the potential for positive impact grows. “We have benefitted from so many great decisions from people throughout the years locally and at the ministry,” Argueta reflects. “All of these investments are maturing almost all at the same time. It’s a defining moment for Mercy.”

For other businesses considering regional strategies, Mercy’s experience offers valuable lessons in patience, humility and collaboration. By thinking beyond traditional boundaries and focusing on shared resources and needs, organizations can drive growth and enhance services across entire regions – ultimately creating stronger, more vibrant communities for all.

This content is brought to you by Mercy Springfield Communities.