Just two months into his tenure as the president and CEO of McDonough District Hospital (MDH), Bill Murdock is already shaking things up, pushing for more transparency and better engagement within the organization. Murdock, who had been the Chief Financial Officer at MDH since 2019, stepped into the interim CEO role after an internal probe into management practices led to the suspension and eventual resignation of the former CEO, Brian Dietz.
On December 28, 2023, the MDH Board of Directors suspended Dietz without pay. By late February, Dietz had officially stepped down, amidst reports of dissatisfaction among employees regarding the work environment and culture. Macomb Mayor Michael Inman confirmed receiving anonymous letters from MDH employees expressing these concerns.
Murdock is now focused on reversing this narrative. “Our primary goal right now is to build relationships and trust within the organization,” he stated. Despite not originally aspiring to the CEO position, Murdock embraced the role full-time after his interim experience. “It gave me an opportunity to build confidence in myself, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately realize that I could excel in this role,” he explained.
Central to Murdock’s strategy is enhancing staff engagement and ensuring transparency. One of his initial steps has been the dissemination of notes from the hospital’s Operations Council, a senior leadership team, to keep staff informed and involved in decision-making processes. Additionally, Murdock is prioritizing community relationship-building, recognizing its critical role in the hospital’s success.
Murdock is also driving innovation within the hospital through his “lean ideas” initiative, which includes exploring ‘paid practices’ and the potential introduction of robotics. Although there is no set timeline for implementing robotics, Murdock envisions it as a key recruitment tool to attract top-tier physicians to Macomb.
Furthering his commitment to community and staff engagement, Murdock plans to establish a Community Advocacy Committee. This committee will include leaders from Macomb, Good Hope, Bushnell, Industry, and Colchester, aiming to foster collaboration and advocacy for the hospital. Murdock is also set to launch a “CEO Shadowing” program, allowing him to gain firsthand insights into the daily operations of each department, enhancing his understanding of the hospital’s workforce and their needs.
Amidst these leadership changes, MDH has continued its construction of a new retail pharmacy. Initially skeptical about this project, Murdock has come to see its potential. “I had a hard time coming around on the retail pharmacy because it was outside our core business,” he admitted. “However, given the numerous challenges in the healthcare industry, it’s essential to explore opportunities beyond our traditional operations to ensure viability.”
The pharmacy’s construction is set to wrap up by the end of July, with inspections and credentialing to follow. The aim is to have it up and running by late 2024, adding more services for the community and expanding the hospital’s scope.
Murdock, an Illinois native with a bachelor’s in accountancy from Western Illinois University (class of ’93), is well-suited to lead MDH. His deep local roots and keen grasp of the region’s healthcare needs prime him to usher the hospital into a new era of transparency, innovation, and community engagement. As Murdock rolls out his vision, both the hospital staff and the broader community can anticipate a more inclusive, forward-thinking healthcare environment.
