With more than two decades in senior leadership at Texas Health Resources, Kirk King feels right at home in his new role as Texas Health’s Hospital Channel chief operating officer.
Employees from throughout the system have come to admire this southern gentleman’s collaborative approach and authentic style. During his tenure, Kirk has served as president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. Kirk served as executive vice president and operations leader for the Southwest Zone from 2015 until assuming his new role in May.
“For the Hospital Channel our clear opportunity in this new era of transformation is to leverage our system capabilities and consistently and reliably deliver an exceptional consumer experience and consistent clinical outcomes,” Kirk said. “It is a privilege and honor to lead a highly motivated and skilled clinical and administrative workforce and continue to establish our entities as the hospital of choice for the communities we serve.”
Kirk reports to Jeffrey Canose, M.D., Texas Health senior executive vice president and chief operating officer.
“Kirk brings such a depth of history with Texas Health and operational expertise to this new role,” Dr. Canose said. “He will do an outstanding job leading our hospitals to provide safe, reliable care and an exceptional consumer experience.”
Priority: Ideation to Execution
Texas Health’s recent organizational changes feature a new approach. Channels are everywhere Texas Health delivers a service or a product, whether it is in person, digital or virtual. Kirk is leading all of Texas Health’s wholly owned hospitals in the Hospital Channel, with all hospital presidents reporting to him.
“I’m bringing my expertise and experience in leading teams through challenging and complex situations,” Kirk said. “I acknowledge that in order to succeed we are going to have to adapt to the changing world by doing our work differently.”
Adapting and changing can be difficult, but the path can be smoothed along the way.
“I firmly believe that results are not enough without transparency, deep trust and accountability, and I commit to these principles guiding my leadership,” he said. “This has been my most valuable lessons learned through my board service, championing key system initiatives and serving in multiple leadership roles at Texas Health.”
Kirk’s true strength lies with executing on major market strategies through collaboration, teamwork and an intense focus on getting the job done. He was instrumental in Texas Health Heart and Vascular Hospital being the last physician-owned hospital to receive licensure before the moratorium and purchasing Texas Health Clearfork out of bankruptcy. “In all instances, I had clear direction and unwavering support from our executive leadership and Board,” he said. “In addition, I had incredible teams of talented professionals helping me along the way.”
Family Matters and, yes, he is from Alabama
Stop by Kirk’s office, and you will quickly realize that relationships are Kirk’s top priority. Family and home are front and center, dwarfing the numerous awards that line his office shelves. He loves to brag on his wife, Luanne, who has been a CRNA for 25 years and his two grown daughters who live in the Metroplex.
Home for Kirk is Alabama – he is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Business and has his MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and it is no surprise to anyone who has talked with Kirk and enjoyed his accent. A football signed by University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban and a shoe signed by Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa rest in his office as reminders of home.
Tuning in to the Hospital Channel
As the Hospital Channel leader, Kirk is responsible for distinguishing Texas Health from competitors based on the consumer-focused clinical care provided in the organization’s hospitals. Standards set by the system for clinical quality, safety, high reliability, consumer experience and financial performance will set Texas Health apart from others in the North Texas marketplace, he said.
“We are sending a very profound message that we are evolving our hospitals for the better,” Kirk said. “Working closely with our Experience Division team and Reliable Health leaders will be a top priority to achieve our hospital goals.”
Kirk also has an eye on the role of Texas Health hospitals as the organization moves beyond only caring for sick and injured individuals, often called episodic care.
“In addition to traditional hospital care, we have to compete and grow through health and well-being,” he said. “These now go hand-in-hand, and if we don’t do both with excellence, we’ll never reach our goals.”
Kirk’s first priority as the leader of the Hospital Channel is to pull everyone together and facilitate a smooth and effective transition to the new structure. He takes on the task with grace and humility.
“This opportunity is something I have been preparing for my entire career,” said Kirk. “I’m so honored to have been given the opportunity to serve in this capacity.”
By Jennifer Erickson • Posted July 9, 2019
