The South-Central Foundation (SCF) underwent significant changes and improvements under the leadership of Katherine Gottlieb, who served as the Chief Executive Officer since 1987. Initially starting with a staff of 1,750 in June 2014, SCF expanded its services, including the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center and local community health centers. The congruence model guided the analysis, focusing on people, structure, work, and culture within the organization. Gottlieb’s vision aimed at creating a welcoming and safe environment for Alaska Native and American Indian (AIAN) people, challenging the conventional health system’s status quo at SCF (Cooper, 2023).
Elements of The Problem
Before Gottlieb’s tenure, SCF faced organizational dysfunction, particularly highlighted by extended patient wait times averaging 7-9 hours irrespective of medical urgency. Patients often experienced dissatisfaction, leading to negative perceptions of the healthcare organization. The lack of a clear vision or mission compounded these issues, hindering effective operations and patient care. Such shortcomings underscored the imperative for organizational change to enhance healthcare quality and community satisfaction (Gauly et al., 2023).
Needs of the Community
The community served by SCF faced significant challenges, including limited healthcare options, prolonged wait times, and reliance on the emergency room for all medical needs. This situation endangered public health, with many community members at risk of inadequate healthcare access and adverse health outcomes. Addressing these needs required comprehensive reforms to improve service efficiency, expand facilities, and prioritize patient well-being (Cooper, 2023).