A New Leader

Inspired Leader

A CONVERSATION WITH LAKE REGIONAL’S NEW CEO, KEVIN MCROBERTS

Story by ANITA HARRISON

For 22 years, Kevin McRoberts, FACHE, has had a singular focus: Grow Lake Regional Health System.

Now Lake Regional’s CEO, McRoberts shares the reason he has dedicated his career to local health care.

“My goal to help the health system grow comes from my desire to meet the needs of the community,” he says. “We all have loved ones and neighbors who in the past would have to leave the community to seek care elsewhere. And, we all know people who vacationed here and retired here, but when they began having health concerns, they returned to the metro area. I’ve been determined to give them a better option.

“What you see at Lake Regional today — including our heart program and our cancer program — we have built to meet people’s needs so they will call this community home,” McRoberts says.

In the following Q&A, McRoberts shares more about what inspires his vision for Lake Regional.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT LAKE REGIONAL’S FUTURE?

We continue to grow and expand, and more people in our service area are choosing Lake Regional.

Lake Regional began as a hospital, but today, we are a full health system with clinics and services spread across five counties. For most of our history, our service area was Camden, Miller and Morgan counties. Our expansion into Lebanon has resulted in demand from patients in Laclede and Pulaski counties, effectively doubling the population we’re serving from around 100,000 people to around 200,000 people.

Our expansion into these counties is necessary to support the programs and specialties that we want to provide our community. Take our heart program, for example. Before expanding, we couldn’t support two cardiovascularthoracic surgeons. Now we can. That second surgeon adds stability to our heart program, and a strong heart program is a must for many people who would like to call our community home.

THE SAME MONTH YOU BECAME CEO, THE WORLD WAS MARKING TWO YEARS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. HOW HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS CHANGED LAKE REGIONAL?

Words cannot express the pride I have for what we’ve accomplished together. It’s been a hard two years, but this team has risen to the challenge and lived our core values of Commit to Each Other, Encourage Excellence and Care More than Expected. As a result, we’ve changed what’s possible for Lake Regional and our community.

Throughout the pandemic, other health care providers from across the state looked to us, at how efficiently we were meeting needs and getting things done. From protecting our employees to testing our community to vaccinating our community — nobody did it better. That success brought us attention and accolades, and that reputation has helped us recruit and attract top talent. It’s exciting to see the caliber of caregivers and leaders joining us. People want to be part of a winning team.

LAKE REGIONAL HAS INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF ITS SUCCESS, TOO, THROUGH SUPPORTING ITS COMMITMENT TO CARING INITIATIVE. WHAT DO YOU WANT READERS TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN ADVANCING LOCAL HEALTH CARE?

I want people to know this is their health system. Our employees are your friends, neighbors and family members. And, we believe our patients deserve the best. That conviction drives us to continue to build and to strengthen our team and facilities for our community.

Our philanthropic initiative, Commitment to Caring, will transform health care delivery in two vitally important services — heart care and

"I want people to know this is their health system. Our employees are your friends, neighbors and family members."

— KEVIN MCROBERTS

cancer care. We are building a facility to house our full cardiac team, as well as all of the technology needed to provide exceptional heart care. We also are expanding our Cancer Center to care for more patients. We’re looking ahead, and we are committed to meeting the needs of our community for decades to come.

LAKE REGIONAL USES THE SLOGAN, “OUR COMMITMENT RUNS DEEP.” WHAT DOES THIS PHRASE MEAN TO YOU?

It’s the work, the calling, the commitment that is on display throughout the health system every day. It’s inspiring to see our team members caring for our patients and for each other. I am proud and humbled to be leading such a remarkable team.

Anita Harrison is the Public Relations Assistant Manager at Lake Regional Health Systems.

Our team is committed to you!

Cancer Care • Heart Care • Orthopedics • Women’s Health 54 Hospital Drive, Osage Beach 573-348-8000 • lakeregional.com