One month in: Yoder’s first days as president at OSF Saint Anthony’s

 

By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE
IBJ Managing Editor
[email protected]

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton recently selected Zach Yoder, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, to serve as its next president. His role in this capacity began officially on Jan. 6, 2025.

Yoder reports to OSF HealthCare Western Region CEO AJ Querciagrossa. “Zach will lead OSF Saint Anthony’s in aligning with the overall strategy of OSF HealthCare while directing all internal operations in continuing to ensure that high quality and cost-effective health care is delivered to our patients who we are blessed to serve in the Riverbend region,” noted Querciagrossa. “Zach will carry forward a culture of collaboration and integration that provides a safe Mission Partner and patient care environment.”

New to OSF HealthCare, Yoder had most recently served as chief operating officer at SIHF Healthcare (Sauget, Ill.) and Touchette Regional Hospital (Cahokia Heights, Ill.). His extensive clinical and leadership background helped him move forward as a top choice for this position. Among the more recent accomplishments that helped influence the selection of Yoder were:

• Decreasing staffing turnover by 9% and agency staffing by 60% in 2022, and
• Closing care gaps and increasing multiple quality metrics across the organization with an increase of 13% in hypertension and diabetes management.

The Illinois Business Journal recently hosted a dialogue with Yoder about his new position, his new employer, his background, and his next steps.

A graduate of Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville, Yoder grew up in Godfrey. Today he resides in O’Fallon with his wife Lindsi, two sons Dexter and Asher, and the family’s two fur babies, their dogs Chloe and Lola. One of five children born to his parents, three of Yoder’s siblings also reside in the Alton and Bethalto area communities today.

After high school, Yoder earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Health Administration from Webster University in St. Louis. He went on to earn a Master of Healthcare Operational Excellence from Washington University in St. Louis.

First, when asked why Yoder chose to accept the role of president at OSF Saint Anthony’s, he said that he wanted the opportunity to serve the community that he grew up in and where many of his family and friends still live.

“Through the process of selection when meeting the team, it was evident this was a culture, and an organization, that I wanted to be a part of,” Yoder further noted.

The IBJ then pointed out that former leaders at OSF Saint Anthony’s have continually emphasized the importance of bringing healthcare into the neighborhoods and community, making it as local and accessible as possible for residents, and asked Yoder if he would hold that as a continued priority as well.

“Absolutely,” Yoder replied. “We have to meet patients where they are. We have to focus on proactive care and treat the whole health of the community, not just their health care. Health inequity encompasses food and housing insecurity, lack of resources, etc. These socioeconomic components cannot be separated out from the individual.”

As for Yoder’s leadership style coming into this position, he said it continues to be one that follows guiding principles defined as “simple in theory but take discipline and discernment.”

“First and foremost, I believe God puts you in situations to help others if you just open your eyes and your heart. I look to show up every day to give the best version of myself so I can create an environment where my team has the space to be the best version of themselves. I focus on culture, people, quality and safety and growth of the organization so we can be here for years to come to serve the community. I am a relationship-focused leader,” he explained.

Diving a bit deeper into his personal leadership philosophy and guiding principles, Yoder revealed, “What fills my cup is the opportunity to wake up every day and make someone’s day a little brighter. The world is full of things we cannot control, but we can control how we show up and how we treat everyone around us. Health care allows me to live out my values. As a father, I want to help create a world my children can be excited about.”

“I have always told myself if I am leading something, is it a place I would want to bring my family? If yes, it’s a great organization, but we can make it better. If not, then it’s my job to work with the team to make it an organization I would bring my family to. At OSF, we focus on doing the right thing, and our team is committed to being a top-quality provider of care in the Riverbend area,” he added.

Yoder also shared that he believes OSF HealthCare’s and OSF Saint Anthony’s uniqueness comes from its mission and the way its Mission Partners serve. (Employees are known as Mission Partners.) “They serve with the greatest love and care,” said Yoder, “and it shows in our actions.”

“OSF Saint Anthony’s is a place of healing that you can only describe when you interact with our Mission Partners,” he said further. “Our team is highly engaged, and quality and patient experience driven. They show up every day with a heart of compassion.”

Admitting that it is still early in his tenure, Yoder shared that top near-future priorities for OSF Saint Anthony’s would “leverage the culture and the environment of care to look to serve more and more members of the community.

“We have several areas of growth such as cancer care, cardiology, gastroenterology and orthopedics, as well as a collaboration with SSM that we will continue to enhance. We are pursuing a 5-star CMS rating and Magnet status, which are the highest acknowledgements of nursing care that an organization can receive,” said Yoder.

He also noted that the healthcare provider would continue to monitor its quality scores, patient and employee engagement, as well as its financial and strategic plans daily.

Among its recent improvements, OSF Saint Anthony’s has started low-dose chemotherapy CT scans at its Moeller Cancer Center, which will help improve outcomes for its patients. “We are also adding additional cardiology procedures and will be the only organization in the Riverbend area to do some of these,” said Yoder, adding that announcements regarding added procedures are forthcoming.

To learn more about OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, visit online at https://www.osfhealthcare.org/hospitals/saint-anthonys.