Mount Carmel’s new CEO focused on individuals
To new Mount Carmel Health System President and CEO Edward Lamb, the position is more than a title, more than a job: it’s a calling.
Lamb, originally from Las Vegas, acknowledged being “a little overcome” when he heard about the commissioning ceremony planned in his honor for Wednesday at Mount Carmel West. Bishop Frederick Campbell of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus came to offer a rite of commissioning, homily and a blessing.
“It’s very humbling when you consider what’s being done here,” Lamb said, referring to the fourhospital Catholic health system where he began work in November. “When you think about a calling, to me that’s very serious.”
Lamb has worked for 32 years in health care, most recently in Utah as Western Division president of IASIS Healthcare. He and his wife found a home in New Albany, where they attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. Lamb says faith is very important to him.
“Faith is what drives everything I do,” he said. When taking a position, he wanted to make sure his values aligned with the organization’s.
Bishop Campbell had met with Lamb before the ceremony, and said during it that Lamb has proven himself to be a strong leader.
“A fundamental mission of the church, going back to the first and second century, is care of the sickly and infirm,” Campbell said. “We offer to our community one of the great resources, not only of health, but of hope.”
Lamb hasn’t made “sweeping changes” in the eight weeks he’s been in the position, but he has worked to improve communication, especially among the staff. He started “Ed Talks,” which are weekly videos updating the staff on what’s going on.
Lamb wants to make sure people know the health system has a focus on individuals.
“Our focus is to lift people in times of difficulty,” he said.
As for challenges coming up, such as the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act, he said the health system will do everything it can to make sure people have access to health care — that’s part of Mount Carmel’s mission.
“We can’t afford to have 22 million people without access to care across our country, so we are definitely in support of working with our legislators and making sure we are, number one, maintaining access and the quality of care that needs to be given to all people and, number two, that it’s equitable for all people.”
Lamb has taken the helm of a health system with more than 10,500 employees, 2,100 physicians and 900 volunteers. In addition to its hospitals, the system has surgery centers, emergency and ambulatory care centers, hospice care, home care and other services.