Bill Chrisemer sits in his office at Merrimack Valley Elder Services, which overlooks the renovated mills along the banks of the Merrimack River in Lawrence. From his window, he can see firsthand how the city is changing with new businesses moving into the massive mills, attracting more people to live and work here.

Bill has been a member of the GLFHC Board of Directors since 1999, and has led the Board as its Chair for the past two years. His professional experience and his personal interests influenced his initial decision to serve as a Director and continue to impact his strong commitment today. Bill holds both an MBA and an MSW from Boston College. Since graduating in 1986, he has spent his professional career in senior management and leadership roles at several different health and social service organizations.

Before he joined the Board, Bill had already made important connections to Lawrence, and he  considered the city a significant part of his family life. Bill’s wife Susan began working at Community Day Care Centers in Lawrence in 1987, and two years later, they bought their first home in the Tower Hill section of the city. At the time he joined the GLFHC Board of Directors, Bill also began working at Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan where he eventually became Director of Operations. Bill viewed his new responsibilities at GLFHC and Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan as an opportunity to understand both the providers’ perspective and the insurers’ perspective of the health care profession.

In his 9 years on the Board, he has watched the Health Center grow substantially, survive some difficult financial times, and emerge fiscally sound and patient oriented. Although the Board membership is currently smaller than in past years, Bill is impressed by everyone’s commitment to GLFHC and the dedication and understanding that members bring to the table.

According to Bill, today’s Board members take a big picture approach to setting the Health Center’s policies and direction; inherent in that is the Board’s trust in GLFHC’s senior leadership to manage the day-to-day issues. Discussion turns to the uniqueness of the Board in that federal funding regulations require that a community health center board reflect the mix of its patient population. Fulfilling this covenant means that a majority of GLFHC’s Board members be consumers including a representative from the Health Care for the Homeless Program and the School-Based Health Center at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Although a homeless representative is historically difficult to recruit, Bill considers it important to have this requirement and values the perspective that patient representatives bring to the decision-making.  Bill believes that it is the unique composition of the Board of Directors that helps the Health Center better understand and better attend to the needs of our patients.

In recent months, Bill says that the Board has engaged in extensive discussions around important policy and strategic questions. As GLFHC looks to the future and the challenges anticipated in the ever-changing health care environment, the Board has reiterated its firm commitment to being good stewards of GLFHC’s limited resources and to expanding services and sites within the scope of its mission.

Bill sees escalating health care costs as the major issue that will drive changes in the industry. He is convinced that GLFHC and its Board of Directors need to monitor closely the economic forces and political changes that will require decisions around cost containment and health care direction. At the  same time, he believes GLFHC must also focus on maintaining its existing patient base and on growing in areas that will enhance patient access. To accomplish this, Bill encourages the Board and staff to be attentive to the quality of patient care and ensure it remains a high priority. It is critical in Bill’s mind that GLFHC listens to its patients and responds by improving cycle time, appointment access, and provider/patient communication. His third concern is that the Health Center maintains adequate operating margins that allow it to adjust to any changes coming to the industry and to plan for future growth. He agrees with CEO Bob Ingala’s assessment that the next challenge in health care is just around the corner.

Bill is upbeat about GLFHC’s current direction. He readily admits that some of the newer programs had their beginnings before his stint as Board Chair. He is excited, however, that these initiatives have developed and thrived on his watch. He points to two examples of programs that have surpassed all expectations. The GLFHC Pharmacy provides both quality patient care and a sustainable source of revenue, and the Mammography unit demonstrates that GLFHC recognized a real community need for this lifesaving technology.

According to Bill, the city’s growth and its pride in a revitalized community is mirrored in the Health Center’s vision of increased services and improved quality care. His leadership ensures that GLFHC’s financial viability and patient-centered approach to care will continue.