HJNO Jul/Aug 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2021 9 One on One RICHARD TANZELLA, CEO East Jefferson General Hospital Richard Tanzella is the CEO of East Jefferson General Hospital. Tanzella brings a passion for healthcare alongwithmore than 25 years of healthcare experience to his role, most recently with Piedmont Healthcare, Inc., a $4 billion integrated system in Atlanta, Georgia. From 2017-2020, he served as CEO of Piedmont Rockdale Hospital. During his tenure, Tanzella directed the transaction and transition of the first for-profit hospital into the Piedmont Healthcare system. He also led an economic and cultural transformation of Piedmont Rockdale Hospital, focusing on quality, safety and service and improving accountability and team/talent building. Tanzella holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Health Administration from Central Michigan University. Tanzella’s little something extra is that he describes himself as able to work productively in nonexecutive settings: in housekeeping, he can turn a med-surg room in under 40 minutes; in dietary, he can work the grill when it's busy; he can fill in as a patient care tech, register patients in Epic, and more. Dianne Hartley, Editor You have been East Jefferson General Hospital’s CEO since February; welcome to New Orleans. How are you, and how does the new position feel? Richard Tanzella Thank you! Everybody has been so welcoming and helpful, from the Board to the front-line staff. I really love liv- ing here and am so excited about my job because of the support from LCMC Health, the staff and physicians. Everybody wants to see East Jefferson General Hospital suc- ceed and flourish for the community. It is just fantastic! Editor What has surprised you the most since taking the helm? Tanzella Coming from Atlanta, I am most surprised to learn that Mardi Gras is more than a parade on Fat Tuesday. I have learned that it is really a season, that people buy lad- ders for it, that people go with their fami- lies to the same spot every year, that there is a difference between a krewe and a super krewe. I cannot wait to see and experience it next year! Editor How would you describe the New Orleans healthcare marketplace? Tanzella I would say that the people here are well served by some great physicians, nurses, clinicians and healthcare profes- sionals and access. Having two highly acclaimed medical schools in LSU and Tulane is so beneficial in ensuring a con- stant supply of physicians in every spe- cialty to care for the city and beyond. The hospitals are advanced as well, and there is enough competition in the marketplace to cause continual improvements in access, services and quality of care for the patients we serve. Editor There was a little uncertainty about the eventual management of EJGH. Can you please give us the backstory? Tanzella From my understanding, HCA pulled out of the transaction at the very end. The delay did not help with employee or physician retention, because nobody likes to work in uncertainty, and many projects