Hospital leader brings wealth of experience

MANATEE

Kevin DiLallo, the new top executive at Manatee Memorial Health System, comes to Bradenton with a wealth of leadership experience, both in the health care field and in community organizations.

DiLallo, who will take over at Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center on March 22, has been the chief executive officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center in Palm Beach County since 2000. He has more than 25 years experience in health care administration at facilities in New Jersey, Oklahoma and Florida.

DiLallo also served as the chairman of the executive board at Palms West Chamber of Commerce and was president of the Wellington Boys & Girls Club for six years.

On Friday, DiLallo addressed his new job and the challenges ahead in an exclusive interview with the Bradenton Herald.

What about Manatee Memorial Health System and Bradenton attracted you to your new position?

The area is a great place to live, and the hospital has great talent with a great reputation. It was an easy decision when you see what the area has to offer.

You are coming from Wellington, near West Palm Beach, which is regarded as an affluent area. Are there unique challenges you will face in your new environment that you haven’t experienced before?

Everyone thinks West Palm Beach is very affluent, but the fact of the matter is some of the wealthiest and poorest people in the nation live in Palm Beach County. It is a very diverse county with some of the same issues that exist in Manatee County.

Your predecessor, Moody Chisholm, made tackling the indigent care crisis one of his top priorities. Where do you think Manatee County stands in terms of indigent care and what needs to be done?

Indigent care is a national issue and needs to be addressed in all communities. The communities that work together to address the issue will be the communities that are ahead of the curve. I am impressed that the study the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and the (Manatee) Chamber of Commerce conducted addressed “access to health care” as an ongoing issue for all citizens to be involved with. I will certainly be ready to collaborate with those already working on this important process to find the best solution.

Despite a recommendation from a local health care task force, the county commission opted not to place a half-cent sales tax on the ballot to help ease the indigent-care burden. Should that be reconsidered?

I will look forward to meeting all of the county commissioners and specifically discussing this issue and what our opportunities are for resolution in the future. With other adjacent counties already having a health care tax, it seems appropriate for us to ease this burden on physicians and hospitals.

The recruitment and retention of physicians and specialists has long been a problem in Manatee County. What can Manatee Memorial Health System do to attract and keep the best physicians?

Just as in any health system, having a good place for doctors to practice and having great staff always helps. There are many dedicated employees at MHS that have devoted their lives to delivering the best services for physicians to come to Manatee County.