By Kyle LoJacono
Pasco Regional Medical Center isn’t the largest or most used hospital in the Southeast, but the Dade City facility can boast one of the region’s top medical directors.
Dr. David Wilcher, Pasco Regional’s medical director of emergency services, was named Medical Director of the Year by TeamHealth Southeast. TeamHealth is a national hospital-based clinical outsourcing services provider based in Florida.
Wilcher said it is the first award of its kind he has ever received, which made it even more special.
“I felt very honored that I was chosen for this award,” Wilcher said. “I was especially excited for the physicians, nurses and techs that made the move with me to Pasco Regional Medical Center. They’re the ones that helped make this possible.”
Wilcher and his staff joined Pasco Regional last October from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. The other four in his group that made the move to Dade City include Drs. Frank Ruisi, Steven Land, Kaivon Madani and Venugopal Palani.
“(The award) just shows that cutting-edge medicine isn’t just in the larger cities,” Wilcher said. “I’m thankful that I’m able to bring that kind of care to the people who are a part of the community I love.”
Wilcher said he first got into healthcare because he has, “A passion for health and human science and a desire to help others,” he said. “It was a perfect fit for me.”
Phil Minden, Pasco Regional’s CEO, said Wilcher’s passion for medicine shows as he, “Is a tremendous asset to the emergency department here.”
Wilcher was recognized for his leadership abilities and commitment to creating the best possible clinical outcomes. An important part of the award was the comfort of the patient.
According to TeamHealth, physician candidates must meet the following criteria to be considered:
–Kindness and compassion in patient caregiving
–Ethical, intuitive and street-smart behavior in the politics of his/her duties
–Innovative and proactive administrative skill
–Strong advocacy for excellence in clinical care
–Team leadership and team membership
–Excellent communication and negotiation skills
–Willingness to frequently go above and beyond the call of duty
–Accountability and stewardship in his or her duties
Wilcher received the award at TeamHealth’s leadership conference this month. He also will be recognized at the American College of Emergency Physicians national meeting later this year.
For more information on TeamHealth, visit www.teamhealth.com. For additional information on Pasco Regional, call (352) 521-1100 or visit www.PascoRegionalmc.com.
