New Nursing Programs in 2021

Managing the creation of new programs at Christus Health in Dallas, Texas, Paul Generale is the healthcare network’s executive vice president. Paul Generale discusses changes in healthcare with the magazine Becker’s Hospital Review. In October of 2021, Becker’s Hospital Review highlighted seven notable nursing programs created in 2021.

The magazine compiled its list based on several factors, considering nursing programs created at colleges and universities that lacked them and choosing institutions that expanded their preexisting offerings. Becker’s Hospital Review also picked programs that addressed gaps in more established degrees or healthcare more broadly.

Becker’s Hospital Review recognized efforts nationwide of all sizes. In 2021, Ballad Health released information regarding collaboration with East Tennessee State University to create the Appalachian Highlands Center for Nursing Advancement. Higher learning institutions that announced nursing program expansions included Charlottesville, Virginia’s Piedmont Virginia Community College, their associate nursing program, and Texas A&M University's College of Nursing’s creation of a doctorate in nursing practice degree. To help prospective nursing professionals gain psychiatric mental health nursing knowledge, Columbus, Ohio’s Mount Carmel Hospital opened a program where participants could learn more about the field.

A Look at Christus Health’s Communities

Dallas resident Paul Generale is an accomplished health care professional who maintains memberships with the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Paul Generale currently serves as the executive vice president of Christus Health, where he has helped secure innovative partnerships with health care practitioners and community-based providers such as the LHC Group.

The partnership with the LHC group aligns with Christus Health’s mission to be a leader in the health care space and improve the health of individuals. A Catholic, faith-based organization, Christus also strives to help others experience God’s love through community-focused efforts such as a disaster relief fund and a commitment to the Healthy Communities Model.

The Healthy Communities Model is overseen by Christus Health’s Mission Integration and Community Benefit division and identifies four key principles to guide the organization's community engagement. The first principle, community ownership, seeks to empower members of the community and bring together a diverse group of community stakeholders. The second principle focuses on the well-being of the community, while the third principle seeks to set goals and benchmarks to measure community health. Finally, the Healthy Communities Model prioritizes partnerships that leverage existing community assets.

Podcasts at Becker HealthCare

Paul Generale is a graduate of Baylor University and the MBA program at the University of Houston. He currently serves as the executive vice president of Christus Health in the Dallas, Texas, region. Recently, Paul Generale was featured on an episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, where he discussed health care strategies and industry competition.

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast is one of 10 podcasts produced by Becker’s Healthcare, a leading resource and content producer in the health care industry. The organization attracts nearly 3 million visitors a month to its websites and creates content that ranges from newsletters and webinars to conferences, whitepapers, and multimedia offerings.

Becker’s HealthCare content helps decision makers and industry leaders engage in conversations and exchange ideas and innovations. In addition to the HealthCare Podcast, which focuses on interviews with health care industry leaders, Becker’s Healthcare publishes the Women’s Leadership Podcast, which addresses topics related to women’s advancement, and the Spine and Orthopedic Podcast, which features experts in the orthopedic space. Other podcasts focus on topics such as ambulatory surgery centers, dental work, payer issues, pediatric leadership, cardiology, and clinical leadership.

For additional information or to subscribe to Becker’s Healthcare podcasts, visit www.beckershospitalreview.com/podcasts.html.

Christus Health Partnership Helps Texas

An Irving, Dallas resident, Paul Generale graduated from the University of Houston and holds a master of business administration. Paul Generale currently serves as the executive vice president of Christus Health in Dallas, Texas.

Christus Health is a non-profit Catholic organization that consists of more than 600 centers and more than 60 hospitals. Christus Health has helped many hospitals throughout Texas fight and resist the covid19 global pandemic. In September 2017, it started a partnership with LHC Group, a national provider of healthcare services, which has proved vital in the fight against coronavirus. In this way, Christus Health enhanced its quality of patient care and enabled house monitoring for patients dealing with the condition.

By treating and monitoring patients with less acute symptoms and variants of the virus, Christus Health has managed to free space and increase its capacity for more life-threatening cases of the virus. In 2020, more than 50 percent of the hospitals in Texas functioned at over 98 percent capacity with many of them even functioning with full capacity in the ICUs. The partnership has enabled Christus Health to maximize the efficiency of the space without having to decrease the quality of patient care as when it was clinically appropriate, people would get sent home and recover from the virus without any complications under the virtual supervision of healthcare professionals.

CHRISTUS Health Breaks Ground

A healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience, Paul Generale has served as executive vice president of CHRISTUS Health since 2015. Responsible for ventures and acquisitions for the Dallas-based Catholic health system, Paul Generale has led the company to increase assets from $4.5 billion to more than $9 billion.

In June 2021, CHRISTUS broke ground on its new international headquarters in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. Located at the intersection of North O’Connor and West Las Colinas boulevards, the 4.3-acre campus will house 456,000 square feet of office space for the company’s associates.

Along with offices, the headquarters will feature deliberately designed outdoor space that emphasizes the health system’s faith-based mission to spread the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Currently, the organization operates from a leased office building in Irving. Situated within walking distance from approximately 20 restaurants, the new site will provide easy access to local attractions such as the Toyota Music Factory. The office’s anticipated opening is in 2023.

Paul Generale on Strategies for M & A

A healthcare executive in Dallas, Texas, Paul Generale joined CHRISTUS Health in 1998 and has served as executive vice president and chief strategy officer since 2015. Paul Generale recently appeared on the Becker’s Hospital Review podcast to speak on topics related to healthcare system strategies for successful mergers and acquisitions.

In recent years, CHRISTUS Health has grown to include 60 hospitals and post-acute care facilities, 175 clinics and ambulatory centers, plus numerous additional health ventures. Moving forward, Mr. Generale discusses how the health system seeks to become more integrated by addressing and filling gaps in its services, given the unique needs of the communities it serves. Particularly, the system is working to add high-quality, multi-specialty care groups that expand its potential pool of patients.

To engage in successful mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Generale recommends making a clear assessment of the potential acquisition. This includes not only financial due diligence, but taking a close look at the leadership culture of the organization, the willingness of partners to adapt their operations, and the overall alignment of organizational goals.

Employee Engagement Has Many Benefits

Based in the Dallas area, Paul Generale serves as the executive vice president of Christus Health. The company offers not-for-profit health services across Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and three Latin American countries. Paul Generale has a professional interest in healthcare industry best practices and employee engagement. And in 2021, Christus Health was named among the top seven most-engaged healthcare companies.

According to research, engaged employees are 17 percent more productive and show 21 percent greater profitability than their peers. Such employees are more likely to expend discretionary effort in their work and are less likely to look for work elsewhere. Tesla, Inc., illustrates how employee engagement can have a positive impact. Alarmed by the rising number of injuries at its car assembly plant in Fremont, California, Tesla employed a strategy of more transparent communication to encourage employees to improve safety. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, instructed employees to report every injury to him without exception. As a result of this proactive employee engagement initiative, Tesla saw incidents reduced by more than 50 percent in 2019 compared to the numbers reported in 2018.

Medicare Advantage Urged to Relax

Ranked among the top 150 “Health Care CFOs to Know” in 2014, Paul Generale works for Christus Health, an international, not-for-profit health system based near Dallas. Paul Generale’s responsibilities at Christus Health include post-acute and ambulatory services.

Estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) show that 25 percent of Americans grapple with multiple chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and diabetes. The figure rises to 75 percent among people over age 65.

The ability to quickly transfer patients to appropriate levels of care and clinically appropriate settings is critical to ensure that they receive timely emergency care. Amid the COVID-19 infection rate surge, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in August called upon Medicare-Medicaid and Medicare Advantage organizations to either relax or waive some prior authorization requirements. All Medicare-Medicaid and Medicare Advantage organizations have been reminded that they are free to waive these requirements whenever the situation demands such action.

Christus Health is Rising to the Covid-19

The Becker’s Hospital Review has recognized Paul Generale as one of the top 150 health system CFOs. As Chief Strategy and Network Officer, Paul Generale leads the Christus Health response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Christus Health is not only planning to move into an international headquarters in the Las Colinas area, Texas, but is adopting new technology amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, they are drastically expanding screening tools with an online Covid-19 screening tool. This nonprofit is also expanding to offer HIPAA-compliant secure video visits. The live video visits are available for Android, iPhone, and desktop computers.

During a video visit, if the primary care provider determines the need for an in-person consultation, medical evaluation, or blood work, they will arrange a referral with suitable instructions. The Christus Health telemedicine approach is useful in preventing coronavirus exposure and clinic overcrowding. The mission at Christus Health is to offer high quality care and improve health outcomes.

Christus Health is Looking into Future

Paul Generale has decades of healthcare leadership experience. He has been with Christus Health since 2002 and serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy, and Network Officer. As part of his work at Christus, Paul Generale leads business development and strategy.

A part of Christus Health’s growth strategy entails moving into a new international headquarters, expected to be commissioned in 2023. Christus Health has operated from a leased space in Irving, Texas, and the search for an alternative accommodation has been ongoing. A suitable location has been identified and the groundbreaking ceremony for the 456,000-square-foot space in Las Colinas, Texas, was held on June 3, 2020.

Earlier in 2020, Christus bought Central Texas Medical Center. This agreement transfers the prestigious AdventHealth’s San Marcos hospital to Christus Health. The 170-bed acquisition will expand the nonprofit’s hospital footprint. With hospitals in New Braunfels, San Antonio, San Marcos, and a new headquarters, Christus Health is now positioned to serve the rapidly growing communities across Central and South Texas.

CHRISTUS Health Announces

An accomplished Dallas healthcare leadership specialist whose experience spans over two decades, Paul Generale has since 2015 served as the executive vice president at CHRISTUS Health, a global non-profit healthcare organization. Under the supervision of Paul Generale, the healthcare firm broke ground for the company’s global headquarters in Irving-Las Colinas.

The new innovative headquarters was launched with a groundbreaking ceremony promising to establish a modern North Texas office space. Located close to the Toyota Music Factory, the 4.2-acre parcel of land will host the 456,000 square-foot space, enabling CHRISTUS Health associates to excel in their mission to support healing. With the official opening planned for 2023, the facility will incorporate both indoor modern facilities and outdoor spaces with key design elements that will emphasize the CHRISTUS faith-based mission which is to continue the healing ministry that Jesus Christ started.

According to Ernie Sadau, the president and CEO of CHRISTUS Health, the groundbreaking is a key milestone. Recognizing the leased space at Irving was a wonderful journey, Sadau indicated it was time to grow and expand. Since inception, the health care ministry has increased its associates from 30,000 to 45,000. The decision to expand was made after CHRISTUS realized it had outgrown its space and needed to give back to the community which had offered it support for a long time.

The new building, strategically located from nearby amenities such as hotels and restaurants, will feature a 15-story block and a 10-story parking garage. Walking trails and outdoor areas at the facility aim to encourage both reflection and exercise. The new location shall enable CHRISTUS to increase both its economic and operational efficiencies in order to boost the quality of healthcare.

ACHE Thomas C. Dolan Executive

Paul Generale is a Dallas based healthcare specialist who draws upon more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership. An alumnus of Baylor University, he serves as the executive vice president of CHRISTUS Health, a catholic non-profit health system. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Paul Generale maintains membership with multiple professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives.

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is a nationwide professional society that brings together healthcare leaders dedicated to improving the standards of health for their patients and communities. To encourage professional development, ACHE has numerous programs including the Thomas C. Dolan Executive Diversity and Career Accelerator Program (EDP). Named after Thomas C. Dolan who served as the ACHE president from 1991-2013, the program continues with his vision to establish a new generation of top-level healthcare managers reflecting diversity. Research has indicated enhanced diversity in healthcare leadership ensures communities enjoy equitable health services.

In 2021, the program received a boost with the addition of CAP (Career Accelerator Program) to specifically support mid-career professionals to ascend the career ladder. The program offers education, networking and mentoring opportunities to prepare leaders from diverse backgrounds to take up more senior positions across the healthcare industry including hospitals and health systems. The aim of the program is to build key leadership skills, sharpen diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as expand skills to tap into various career opportunities and challenges.

CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center

The executive vice president of CHRISTUS Health Associates, Paul Generale leads strategy across the health system's network of health care services in Dallas and around the world. Paul Generale has facilitated investment in the CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center, which holds Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI.

Part of the CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System, CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center serves residents in east Texas and north Louisiana. Due to its accreditation, patients do not have to travel to Dallas and other larger cities for heart care. The ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation indicates a hospital has proven exceptional capabilities in treating heart attack symptoms. Furthermore, it confirms that a hospital offers primary PCI, a non-surgical procedure to reduce symptoms and potential heart damage from a heart attack.

To attain the accreditation, CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center underwent an extensive on-site evaluation. This required examining different types of care, implementing improved strategies for care, and demonstrating the capability to support improved patient outcomes.

CHRISTUS Health Associates Develops

Paul Generale serves as executive vice president of CHRISTUS Health Associates, based in Dallas's Irving suburb. Paul Generale assists with the international Catholic non-profit's new ventures. The organization’s increased activities over the past decade have required it to relocate and expand its headquarters.

CHRISTUS Health has leased office space in the past, but broke ground on its new headquarters in Las Colinas, a neighborhood in Dallas, in 2021. The new headquarters is located on a 4.2-acre property and spans 456,000 square feet. It is near the Toyota Music Factory, a variety of hotels, and about 20 restaurants. The design features many outdoor spaces and elements representative of its faith-based mission to "extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ."

The nonprofit organization required additional space due to the need to consistently expand its operations. Today, it manages more than 45,000 individuals in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and the US, as well as $9 billion in assets. Each year, its programming impacts more than 6.5 million people. 

HFMA Digital Annual Conference - Technology for Financial Engagement

Dallas-based healthcare executive Paul Generale joined CHRISTUS Health in 1998 and has served as executive vice president since 2015. A member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Paul Generale is a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

The HFMA Digital Annual Conference 2020 invited multiple health companies to give short presentations about their innovative solutions for improving performance in healthcare revenue cycles. The first health system in the country to utilize augmented reality in its billing process, Banner Health developed an application that, with the scan of a QR code on a billing statement, introduces an avatar to explain each aspect of the bill.

Patients gain a clearer understanding of their financial responsibility, payment due dates, and portions covered by insurance, without having to call a customer service representative. In its first eight months of service, more than 1,600 patients downloaded the app, and among them, only 9 percent called customer service after using the app. This represents a marked reduction in traditional call rates for customers following bill receipt.

ACHE Conducts Ongoing Research

A healthcare executive with more than two decades of experience, Paul Generale joined CHRISTUS Health in 1998 and has served as executive vice president of the nonprofit Catholic health system since 2015. To stay informed of topics within the healthcare field, Paul Generale maintains membership in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

A professional membership society for healthcare leaders, ACHE comprises 48,000 members committed to confronting health care’s biggest challenges. To pursue that mission, the organization conducts ongoing research in healthcare management, conducting qualitative interviews, convening member focus groups, and analyzing annual membership data to better understand workforce challenges. ACHE research initiatives also include workplace studies to assess senior leadership staffing, helping healthcare systems develop diverse, inclusive leadership teams.

ACHE’s About the Workplace research compiles data on healthcare executives’ career attainments by race and ethnicity, allowing organizations to gain a clearer understanding of leadership demographics. The research also compares career attainment based on gender and makes recommendations to achieve gender equality in the workplace.

CHRISTUS Health Expands Presence in TX

A Dallas healthcare system administrator, Paul Generale has served as the executive vice president and chief strategy and network officer with CHRISTUS Health since 2016. With an emphasis on ensuring quality healthcare within an expanding health care system, Paul Generale oversees a network that comprises New Mexico, Louisiana, and Texas.

As part of its expansion efforts, CHRISTUS Health announced in December 2020 that it had signed a letter of intent to pay $27 million for Hopkins County Hospital District’s stake in a joint venture. The letter of intent has been approved, and final negotiations are now underway. In 2016, the CHRISTUS Hopkins Health

Alliance partnership was forged as a way of jointly operating and managing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, located in Sulphur Springs, Texas, as well as its associated clinics.

At the time that the joint venture was established, Hopkins County Hospital District possessed a 49 percent stake, while CHRISTUS possessed a 51 percent stake. Through the acquisition of the district’s stake, CHRISTUS will become the sole operator of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital.

The acquisition was described as an opportunity for CHRISTUS Health to continue to ensure high levels of care to patients across northeast Texas. As part of the transaction, the faith-based health provider made a commitment to invest significantly in a number of capital improvement projects. Over the course of a five-year period, $5 million will be invested in areas that extend beyond basic care and encompass physician recruitment and IT capacities. At the same time, the Hopkins County Hospital District will contribute as much as $2 million each year to the CHRISTUS Hopkins Alliance to cover the cost of indigent care for patients with limited financial resources.  

CHRISTUS Health COVID-19 Vaccination

A longtime Dallas, Texas, healthcare administrator, Paul Generale serves as the chief strategy and network officer and executive vice president with CHRISTUS Health. In his work guiding the not-for-profit Catholic health system, Paul Generale has a focus on ensuring high standards of care throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Starting in December 2020, the CHRISTUS Health system made rapid progress in the process of distributing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to frontline healthcare professionals across its hospitals and clinics. This included the Christus Bossier Emergency Hospital in Louisiana, where physicians received a dose of the Pfizer vaccine mid-month, to be followed by the second and final dose three weeks later.

By early January 2021, the rollout of vaccinations for Phase 1B recipients had begun, with these doses reserved for any patients who are above the age of 65, as well as those over age 16 and with specified medical conditions. As the vaccine rollout progressed in a smooth and orderly fashion, patients were asked to exercise patience as appointment times for vaccinations gradually became available. 

2021 Congress on Healthcare Leadership Set for March 22-25

A Dallas-based healthcare executive, Paul Generale joined Christus Health in 1998 and has served as executive vice president since 2015. To stay informed on current trends and topics within the healthcare management field, Paul Generale belongs to the American College of Healthcare Executives.

With a mission of improving health for patients and communities, the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) comprises 48,000 members, 60 percent of whom hold a master’s degree or higher. ACHE is currently accepting registration for the 2021 Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which will take place virtually March 22 to 25. The four-day event offers unparalleled educational and networking opportunities for healthcare executives, as well as keynote speeches and addresses by such respected figures as Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and public health leader. Attendees can also enjoy a fireside chat with Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The 2021 Congress on Healthcare Leadership provides up to 12 ACHE Face-to-Face Education credits and up to 120 Qualified Education Credits. 

CHRISTUS Health Foundation Supports Dallas Community

Employed with CHRISTUS Health for more than 20 years, Paul Generale has held positions including regional chief financial officer and senior vice president of financial operations and ambulatory services. Paul Generale currently serves as the executive vice president and the chief strategy and network officer for the Dallas-based healthcare system.

Devoted to creating healthcare services and processes that improve the health of individuals and communities, CHRISTUS Health operates the CHRISTUS Health Foundation (CHF) to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Partnering with individuals, families, and businesses whose goals are consistent with CHRISTUS Health’s mission, CHF conducts community outreach initiatives such as a recent drive to collect donations for families in need of support during the Christmas holiday.

Through a partnership with Catholic Charities of Dallas, CHF requested monetary donations for the purchase of more than 250 gifts for 35 local families. By supporting vulnerable neighbors, the foundation lives out its ministry of creating sustainable health in the community.

 

American College of Healthcare

A healthcare executive based in Dallas, Texas, Paul Generale brings more than two decades of experience to his current role as executive vice president and the chief strategy and network officer of CHRISTUS Health. Paul Generale maintains membership in professional organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

An international professional society of more than 48,000 members and fellows, ACHE encourages professional excellence and collaboration aimed at confronting healthcare’s biggest obstacles. Membership benefits include access to a wealth of resources, including the Higher Education Network of academic programs, as well as networks and forums that connect small interest groups such as CEOs or early careerists. Members also receive access to Healthcare Executive magazine and the Journal of Healthcare Management.

To increase core leadership competencies, ACHE members can participate in exclusive programs and volunteer opportunities as well as numerous events at the ACHE local chapter level. For more information about ACHE membership benefits, visit www.ache.org.