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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 21 F O C U S : H e a l t h C a r e By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo A s he embarks on his new position leading the Waterbury HEALTH network, Dr. Justin Lundbye says his background as a physician will help him accomplish his goals to grow the organization, improve patient care and increase services. Lundbye is a cardiologist and internal medicine physician, and also teaches at the University of Connecticut, where he is an associate professor of medicine. He took over as CEO the first week of November, replacing Lester Schindel, who retired. Lundbye now leads the entire health network, which includes Waterbury Hospital, Alliance Medical Group, Cardiology Associates of Greater Waterbury, VNA Health at Home, Access Rehab Centers, and the Greater Waterbury Imaging Center. e network provides primary, emergency and home health care to Waterbury and several surrounding communities. Lundbye had most recently served as senior vice president and chief medical officer of Waterbury Hospital, a role he had since Dec. 2016. During the pandemic, Lundbye has led testing and vaccination efforts, and served as the network's primary medical spokesman. e for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings acquired Waterbury HEALTH, financially troubled at the time, in 2016, around the period Lundbye joined. He previously held leadership roles at Hartford HealthCare. According to Lundbye, the Waterbury HEALTH system's financial position has improved since the Prospect acquisition. Previously, Waterbury Hospital, its largest asset, had been experiencing financial losses and job cuts. Prospect acquired the health system's assets for $43.3 million, and agreed to invest more than $50 million. Waterbury Hospital in fiscal year 2020 generated $237.3 million in operating revenue and a $19.5 million operating margin, making it one of the top-performing Connecticut hospitals, according to recent data published by the state Office of Health Strategy. e hospital's total net assets have grown from $37 million in 2017 to $111 million in 2020. New Haven Biz recently chatted with Lundbye about his plans for his new role, and how he hopes to improve and change the health system. Physician Perspective New Waterbury HEALTH CEO brings doctor's insight to role Is it unusual for a physician to be in the CEO role? It is becoming a norm more so than it was. I think a lot of healthcare systems and organizations realize that the physicians understand not only the clinical aspect but they have the administrative background. It really is a sweet spot, or a secret sauce for effective leadership. ere have been studies that have looked at physician leadership. It turns out that if a physician is in a leadership role, a CEO role in an organization, their outcomes are better, their quality is better, their finances are better, it ticks better all around. What do you hope to accomplish in your new position? I want to continue to provide what I consider high-quality care at an appropriate value. e other thing that has become more acute to me is the change in our staffing landscape. ere is this 'Great Resignation' going on out there. Health care is also impacted. It is very important that people feel happy at their workplace. Every day when I get up in the morning, I look forward to coming in because I know I am going to help someone, I am going to improve something, and it keeps me challenged. I want people to feel that appetite when they come into this organization as an employee. A lot of them do today. I think that is one of the ways you can continue to retain people -- build them and make them really take pride in what they do. Has COVID had an impact on people deciding to leave the health profession? Yes. People had this immense adrenaline surge the first round of COVID when we saw our first spike. People really stepped up into action and were ready to fight it. Now it is going into its second year, people are exhausted. is adrenaline surge is wearing off. We have seen people who have le the profession, from physicians to mid-level practitioners to nurses and other areas. ese people would go into the rooms everyday, gown up and get all their [personal protective equipment]. ere was death and suffering. at really takes a toll on people aer awhile. Do you anticipate changes in how health care is delivered? We need to really think about how we can redefine ourselves and how we do health care. We can't do it the usual way where you come into the hospital, you stay for four days and then you go home. Maybe there is another opportunity to revisit things like hospital to home care, where you get most of your therapy and then you go home and get the rest at home with some sort of resource that we introduce. It is an opportunity to redefine ourselves. Do you anticipate the health network will grow? If so, how? It will definitely grow. One of the things we take pride in is our ability to create what we call coordinated regional care models where we create clinically integrated networks. We work with patients, payers (such as insurance companies) and providers to coordinate care better. at will build on our existing network, and I think that will expand even more beyond where it is today. We continue to add new physicians to our growing group. Today we have 42 primary care providers in our community. We have about 160 or so employed physicians just in the Waterbury area who provide excellent care to our patients every day. Are you thinking of expanding in different care areas or regionally? We want to continue to expand our cardiac care. Our cardiac care is superb, but there are opportunities to bring new therapies locally, so patients Dr. Justin Lundbye is the CEO Waterbury HEALTH network. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Dr. Justin Lundbye CEO, Waterbury HEALTH Age: 49 Education: Medical degree, Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies Continued on page 22

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