Hello friends, neighbors and all those who call East Lewis County home.
As I approach my first year as chief executive officer of Arbor Health, a remarkable community-owned healthcare organization, I want to share with you an important milestone: the approval of Arbor Health's 2027-2030 Strategic Plan.
What makes this plan so significant is that it provides us with a clear and contemporary roadmap for strengthening local healthcare and building a healthier future with and for the communities we serve.
As our nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, Arbor Health is also looking ahead with renewed purpose and commitment to the people of East Lewis County. This new strategic plan reaffirms our mission: to provide every patient the best care and every employee the best place to work, while setting the priorities, goals and measurable objectives that will guide us over the next four years.
Developed through a structured planning process in early 2026, the plan was shaped by multiple assessments that highlighted opportunities for growth, service gaps, facility and staffing needs, community health needs and local healthcare priorities. In addition to gathering feedback from community members and partners, we engaged our leaders, team members and medical staff from across Arbor Health to ensure the plan reflects both organizational priorities and community needs.
With the strategic plan in place, the implementation work begins and to support this, we've also updated the Arbor Health organizational chart with realigned leader titles to clarify decision-making and accountability, and ensure the organization is positioned to carry out the plan with focus, unity and consistency.
Earlier, I used the term milestone when referencing the strategic plan, but there are other milestones the leaders of Arbor Health, including our board of commissioners, are mindful of.
This plan comes at a time when healthcare organizations across the country — and especially rural hospitals — continue to face a challenging environment shaped by workforce shortages, rising costs, regulatory demands, an increasingly complicated payer landscape, and changing patient needs.
These realities make it even more important that Arbor Health plans proactively for long-term sustainability, access and community impact.
Rural hospitals and clinics today often face two choices: cut back on expenses and services or grow in ways that ensure they can continue meeting their communities' needs.
At Arbor Health, we have chosen to focus on responsible growth — to ensure we meet the needs of East Lewis County residents today, and of the family members, friends, neighbors and future generations who will rely on Arbor Health for care in the years ahead.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge that we understand you have options as to where you receive your care. Know that we are honored and proud to serve this community, and that when you do make Arbor Health your first choice, you will be cared for by those who are committed to building a strong, sustainable future for local healthcare.
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Eric “Max” Neal is the chief executive officer for Arbor Health.
