Karen Faulis.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE FEAGLE
Karen Faulis was a nurse prior to becoming CEO at two of Desert Care Network’s three area hospitals — JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. She taps into those clinical skills as an administrator, relating to the needs of professionals and patients.
Prevention is key to achieving the best clinical outcomes, and Faulis emphasizes outreach, including community organizations, to engage and educate the community. The network offers a variety of services at primary and specialty care centers.
“Our goal is to care for patients as close to their homes as possible,” Faulis says, “but it is reassuring to know that if a patient requires a higher level of care, the network will be there for them.”
Faulis says JFK Memorial Hospital is a great place to work because of its community-oriented atmosphere and location in one of the fastest-growing areas in California.
“A majority of the employees and physicians live in the surrounding communities,” she says, “so there is a great sense of pride in caring for their neighbors, families, and friends.”
Every year, the hospitals assess community needs to prioritize recruitment and develop physicians through the Graduate Medical Education program at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
The hospitals continually add new technology and are also exploring uses for artificial intelligence — including a program that detects blood clots in the brain “very quickly” in order to reduce the effects of stroke. Desert Care Network has the region’s largest stroke treatment network, Faulis says, and perfectly exemplifies their approach: bringing together community engagement, technology, and high-quality care to save lives.