Earlier this year, Coach Riley was accepted into the Moore County Leadership Institute (MCLI) and we promised a monthly recap of each of his new experiences. If you aren’t caught up, click here to learn about this adventure!
This month, Riley and the MCLI team got to explore all things FirstHealth. After getting to tour the new Cancer Center of FirstHealth, and learning all about the ins and outs of how things run and work, Riley was eager to share his findings when returning back to First Tee – Sandhills. Take a moment to hear what they learned and discovered while visiting and learning all about FirstHealth.
“We began our day by meeting with the CEO and COO of FirstHealth, where I discovered some intriguing facts about the organization that I hadn’t known before. FirstHealth operates independently and is a not-for-profit organization, meaning that all revenue is reinvested directly into patient care. I was particularly moved by learning about their Foundation, which exists solely to provide financial assistance to those struggling with medical bills.They also shared details about the new Cancer Center in Moore County, which represents a significant advancement by bringing all aspects of treatment and rehabilitation together under one roof, rather than being spread across different buildings. The conversation also highlighted FirstHealth’s expansion plans, not just in Moore County but across all the counties they serve. Key projects include an upgraded energy supply building in Moore, which is critical for their expansion efforts, as they’ve already reached full capacity, and a new Women and Children’s building. Interestingly, FirstHealth is the only provider of women’s services in the region. The COO also discussed several safety improvements he’s implemented to enhance hospital security. Every day, department heads across the network participate in a Safety Huddle, where they review a comprehensive report from the previous day to track near misses and implement changes proactively to prevent any harmful incidents.”
“Following that, they introduced their Tele-Health program, which was developed post-COVID to reduce the need for in-person contact. This program allows patients to consult with doctors over the phone, from simply discussing symptoms to enabling daily check-ins for patients who have been discharged but still require monitoring. A significant advantage of this system for FirstHealth is that one provider can manage all at-home observations each day, even if the patients are spread across different locations. This approach, coupled with a notable reduction in 30-day readmissions—which hospitals cannot charge for—has resulted in substantial cost savings for the organization. Next, we toured the new Cancer Center, where each floor is dedicated to a specific aspect of cancer treatment. The passion and care of the employees were immediately evident, and the environment felt far from a typical hospital setting. With vibrant colors and a welcoming atmosphere, the center stood out as a place of hope. However, one sobering statistic caught my attention: they see approximately 260 patients daily.”
“We concluded our day at the Pinehurst Medical Clinic, focusing on the evolving landscape of behavioral health and the rise in mental health challenges post-COVID. Since the pandemic, there has been a marked increase in extreme social anxiety, depression, and a decline in reading skills among younger age groups. We also learned about the surge in distress among high school seniors and college freshmen, many of whom felt their lives had been derailed by the pandemic.”
“Several insights stood out to me. First, the startling realization that around 80% of our daily thoughts are negative—a figure that, on reflection, seems accurate. Additionally, it was intriguing to note the higher number of female patients seeking mental health support compared to males. The discussion brought up interesting perspectives on why this might be, with some suggesting that societal norms discourage men from seeking help, while others felt that men tend to address issues superficially, whereas women engage more deeply. Overall, the experience was eye-opening, shedding light on the profound impact these issues have on our community.”
Riley’s next journey through MCLI will be September 18th.
