You only get one chance every year to start a new decade.

As we put the wraps on the decade of the 2010’s here in Osceola County, we’re asking local officials and “movers ‘n shakers” to reflect on the last year of this one and the first one of the new decade, the “Roaring ’20s”, and how we’re going to best usher it in.

Brent Burish is the CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. He oversees hundreds of employees at a facility tasked with keeping local residents well, and helping them return to wellness if sick or injured.

Here are his thoughts on the past year, hopes for the one upcoming and how the medical facility will be part of the fabric, and a reflection of, the community when we do this again in 2029.

What were the biggest “wins” for St. Cloud Regional Center in 2019?
The ‘easy’ answer would be our expansion. 2019 marked the first year for our new hospital entrance, Emergency Department, Surgical Services Expansion and renovated Intensive Care Unit. It all highlighted the groundbreaking for a new outpatient center and medical office buildings and outpatient center on campus currently under construction and set to open in Summer 2020.

While physical expansions are substantial, the honest answer for ‘biggest win’ is continuing to see our team members grow, expand and remain successful in their roles.

2019 marked the first year of our new Mission Statement: to provide safe, personalized, accessible health care to St. Cloud and surrounding communities. In many ways, like achieving designated Primary Stroke Accreditation in 2019, our facility improved safety outcomes this year with more to come in the future. But none of those achievements are possible without a growing, engaged group of stakeholders including over 500 team members, 300 credentialed medical staffers, our board and volunteers. Seeing over 100 people come to a November job fair spoke to validate the positive environment our campus is creating in attracting amazing people to be a part of fulfilling our Mission.

On a personal note, it was a rare privilege and gift to join the St.; Cloud Christmas Parade with three of my children sitting in a float and welcoming in the holidays with the community.

What are you looking forward to in 2020? What has the best chance of occurring?
2020 will be marked by our new medical offices and feature 50,000 more square feet of outpatient services including a new walk-in clinic, and primary cardiac care, which will lead to better outcomes for our community.

I hope 2020 brings stability towards increasing insurance coverage, either at a state or Federal level, to allow more residents to continue accessing care, both on an emergent basis and to allow preventative measures to improve well-being.

By the end of the ’20s in ten years, what do you think community will look like as far as infrastructure and how the medical center will be a part of that?
St. Cloud and Osceola County are among the fastest growing areas of the country. I anticipate continued investment by local leaders in transportation, education, public safety, utilities and recreation. I do expect St. Cloud to retain its values, including celebrating ‘small town life’.

At the hospital, we see people in some of their greatest times of needs, and also see people come together in amazing ways of support. Even if the population is larger, I expect the camaraderie within the residents of the city will stay the same.

We’ve grown in primary and specialty care on campus. Part of our mission is accessible care, including putting primary care near where they live, specifically within seven miles of where they live. In later years that will include remote health a tele-health, where a patient can be assessed by computer within 10 or 15 minutes. That will continue to support and enhance local services here, providing more responsive care.

From Postively Osceola… Mr. Burish, we thank you and your team at St. Cloud Regional Medical Center for making a Positive Difference in Osceola County!