If there is any constant in today’s health care landscape, it is change.

As a new leader of the Adventist Health Northern California Network, a five-hospital network that includes St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, I hope to bring with it positive changes.

I feel privileged and blessed to be given a leadership role in this region and to work on such important initiatives for the Lake County community. I’m looking forward to learning more, getting to know the culture, and the people.

Being new to the area, I want to share with you a little bit about myself and my desire to help make a difference in the way health care is viewed and received in Lake County.

First, I am passionate about people – in fact that is one of the reasons I chose a career in health care. Health care is all about people, relationships and respect.

I believe our physicians, caregivers and staff are devoted to our mission of sharing God’s love by providing physical, mental and spiritual healing.

I know that when it comes to health care, there are many challenges.

When I first started my career with Adventist Health in 1987, the climate and landscape had many similarities to its current state.

Private insurance was becoming more common, changes in how hospitals got paid and how patients were treated and cared for was becoming highly regulated.

It really was not much different from our health care landscape of today, where the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is said to make a sizable impact on around 12,000 of our community members in Lake County alone.

As I look toward the future I can’t help but be optimistic. Despite differences over the ACA and
reductions in reimbursements, I remain committed to the people of Lake County.

In fact, in 2014 St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, under the leadership of interim Chief Executive Officer Steven Herber, MD, and Vice President of Operations David Santos, will be adding physicians and expanding the services offered at our hospital and 10 clinics throughout Lake County.

Together the people of Adventist Health and St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake will provide care for many generations to come.

I wish each of you good health so that you may Live Younger Longer.

Jeff Eller is president of the Northern California Network of Adventist Health.