Cheryl Matejka's promotion is one of several senior leadership role changes as newly appointed CEO Steve Mackin prepares to take over the reins at Mercy.
When Steve Mackin assumes his new role as president and CEO at Mercy on April 1, he will join several other new executive appointees, including Cheryl Matejka as the new chief financial officer, who began her role this month.
Matejka has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with 15 years of those years at Mercy in a variety of roles.
"I've had the privilege of being part of many evolutions and care models in the healthcare industry," Matejka says. "I also willingly embrace future change to improve the healthcare model in our country to better serve our patients and communities. The wonderful thing about having had a long career with Mercy is that I know Mercy's plan and I can step into a new role with minimal disruption."
In announcing Matejka's appointment, the healthcare provider stated in a release, "Serving in various Mercy leadership roles since 2006, Matejka has broad experience and deep understanding of Mercy's finances. In partnership with operations across Mercy, Matejka has overseen significant strengthening of Mercy's financials over the past decade, often during times of regulatory and contractual change in healthcare. Matejka's promotions within the finance organization over the years are not only the result of her talent and business acumen, but also a deep commitment to Mercy's mission and focus on the highest quality care for patients."
HealthLeaders caught up with Matejka recently and asked her about her goals in the new role, as well as what she sees as the biggest issues facing healthcare CFOs in 2022.
HealthLeaders: Would you please tell us a little bit about Mercy and the community it serves?
Cheryl Matejka: Mercy is one of the 25 largest U.S. health systems and serves millions annually with nationally recognized quality care. Mercy is a highly integrated, multistate healthcare system including more than 40 acute care managed and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers, and pharmacies.
Mercy has 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 3,500 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners, as well as more than 40,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services, and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. We serve in both large and small communities across our footprint. We also have one of the nation's largest ACOs and are excited to help advance the national need to decrease the overall cost of healthcare in our nation.
HealthLeaders: Aside from the pandemic, what do you believe are the top three challenges facing healthcare organizations today?
Matejka: In order…
1. Staffing. Our extremely dedicated co-workers and medical team have stepped up again and again, after every relentless wave of COVID. While we have applied herculean and creative efforts to recruit more co-workers and support different care models to meet the need, the reality is that the labor market is very stressed.
2. Inflation. It's apparent that inflation will impact all of our costs in the foreseeable future. As an organization that cares about keeping costs low for our patients, this is a concerning trend. As a nation, we have to bend the healthcare cost curve. Rising costs will be a continual challenge.
3. The pace of change.
HealthLeaders: Have you been asked to lead any specific missions, and what goals to you want to achieve?
Matejka: Mercy has had a thoughtful strategic plan that has continued even through the past two years of the pandemic. The good news about a thoughtful and intentional internal transition is that I've been involved in developing and executing on that plan and know where we need to go.
Clearly, Mercy needs to remain financially strong to be able to serve our communities both now and in an uncertain national healthcare future. Ensuring we have the financial strength to support our mission to our communities, regardless of what is going on in our world, is a key focus and foundational to Mercy's essentiality in the communities we serve.
Our strong foundation has helped us be prepared to respond to a pandemic no one predicted. I want our communities to know that we can support them long into the future in spite of uncertainty. Our co-workers need to have that assurance as well. We must also continue to improve our care model over the coming years as we care for more patients than ever before.
HealthLeaders: How is the staffing crisis in healthcare impacting Mercy, and what role do you believe CFOs can play in addressing that crisis?
Matejka: CFOs need to understand the drivers of the shortage and help support new and innovative solutions, including different staffing models and creative reward programs that help attract and retain the best talent. Senior teams, including the CFO and CHRO, have to lock arms and work together to balance all the needs of an organization.
HealthLeaders: In what ways can CFOs help health systems, hospitals, and the healthcare industry plan for an uncertain and turbulent future?
Matejka: CFOs see opportunities and are positioned to help their organizations implement broad change to create improvement not only in cost but most importantly in quality and service. CFOs need to be open to enabling solutions that are different than anything in our past. The pandemic has accelerated change at a pace I never would have dreamed possible.
Being connected to what is happening in our clinics, hospitals, and communities is crucial to understanding how decisions impact the care we deliver. All CFOS should strive to have that level of understanding and engagement.
HealthLeaders: What advice do you have for other healthcare CFOs on how to best help their organizations succeed at serving patients, nurturing staff, mastering efficiencies, and surpassing the competition?
Matejka: It's critical to be nimble, as healthcare is constantly on the move. I believe every organization is unique and has unique challenges.
David Weldon is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Matejka has more than 30 years of industry experience, including more than 15 at Mercy
Besides the pandemic, the top issues facing CFOs in 2022 are the staffing crisis, inflation, and the pace of change.
The healthcare industry is at a crossroads, and hospitals must be prepared to implement new care models and work with reduced staffs.