Bridgette Wiefling

Bridgette Wiefling

EVP Physician Enterprise, Rochester Regional Health

Years in current role: I’ve been at RRH for 9 years

What do you enjoy most about your role?

It is incredibly meaningful to be able to support my colleagues in achieving their vision for medical care in our community. We have talented, compassionate providers and supporting team members which drive nationally recognized patient outcomes. It is my privilege to ensure our strategies address our communities needs and my honor to ensure our physicians have the right resources to make our collective vision possible.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve dealt with over the past year?

COVID of course. It was challenging leading teams in the dismantling of traditional health care services in order to build new models of care that would allow delivery of services to patients safely, while simultaneously keeping our health care workforce safe. The hardest part was asking our health care team to rise above their fears and be brave, to put their own health and that of their families on the line to ensure the greater wellbeing of patients. That said, our physicians, nurses and all of the support teams leaned in, they volunteered to do incredible things, to deliver care under strenuous circumstances and they led with their heads high and hearts extended to keep our community safe. It was a powerful experience that has changed all of us.

What do you see as the biggest changes in the health care industry in the next 3-5 years?

Three areas of change I see as prominent. First, I believe workforce pressures will continue to drive innovative models that require top of license performance, as well as continued investments in educational pipelines. Second, payers and employers will need to partner with the health care providers in more meaningful ways to adjust to for-profit national corporations which have the potential to threaten local stability of critical healthcare services. Lastly, the use of new technology that allows for convenience and more services to be delivered in the home will be more prevalent and acceptable.

What community organizations do you support as a volunteer and why?

I support several organizations that are important to our community, including the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, which has been an asset in the evolution of innovative new health care solutions tailored to our community’s needs. The Al Sigl Center is dedicated to supporting organizations which care for some of our most vulnerable, and the University of Brockport is a gem in our community education system. We have a plethora of amazing philanthropic organizations that set the bar for care in Rochester like St. Ann’s, Common Ground Health and Finger Lakes Performing Provider System, unique assets that push the envelope to drive collaboration across the region. Volunteering is a way to ensure our future and I’m lucky to have that opportunity with so many great people.

What are you most looking forward to doing as COVID restrictions ease?

I am looking forward to being able to meet with my teams and our physicians, in person, to celebrate our achievements, as well as, continuing to design the future of medicine in our communities with my fellow physician, health care team members and patients, without the din of COVID.