Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Episode Featuring Rebekah Fincher
Host: Chanel Bunger
Guest: Rebekah Fincher, Chief Administrative Officer at Conway Regional Health System
Release Date: July 2, 2025
Introduction and Background
In this engaging episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Chanel Bunger welcomes Rebekah Fincher, the Chief Administrative Officer and Designated Institutional Official at Conway Regional Health System. Rebekah shares her extensive background, detailing her 15-year tenure at Conway Regional and her diverse roles within the organization.
Key Points:
- Professional Background: Rebekah oversees strategy, growth, and business development at Conway Regional Health System, a 180-bed not-for-profit medical center in Conway, Arkansas. She manages a provider enterprise with over 120 providers across 23 locations and leads the graduate medical education program established in 2020.
- Personal Insights: Beyond her professional life, Rebekah highlights her family life, mentioning her 15-year marriage, two children, and personal interests such as running, yoga, cooking, and baking.
Notable Quote:
"We are a 180 bed, not for profit medical center here in Conway... I work in three areas: strategy, growth and business development, and overseeing our provider enterprise and graduate medical education."
(00:25)
Current Healthcare Trends in Arkansas
Rebekah delves into the pressing healthcare trends affecting Arkansas, emphasizing the challenges related to maternal health and hospital services.
Key Points:
- Maternal Health Deserts: Arkansas faces a significant decline in hospitals capable of providing labor and delivery services, contributing to the state having the third-highest infant mortality rate in the United States.
- Innovative Care Models: Conway Regional is focusing on reimagining the delivery of care by providing comprehensive prenatal and postpartum services. This approach aims to support individuals who face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare facilities, such as transportation difficulties or lack of resources.
Notable Quote:
"Arkansas has the third highest infant mortality in the United States... we're really thinking about the delivery of care model differently and how those services are happening."
(02:17)
Focus and Excitement for the Future
Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, Rebekah shares her enthusiasm for the advancements in graduate medical education and its impact on healthcare accessibility in Arkansas.
Key Points:
- Graduate Medical Education (GME): Rebekah expresses pride in establishing and expanding GME programs at Conway Regional, including a rural training site in Dardanelle. These programs aim to train the next generation of physicians within Arkansas, thereby addressing the state's medical underserved status.
- Collaboration with Medical Schools: The collaboration with emerging medical schools in Arkansas enhances the ability to offer residency programs locally, fostering a sustainable pipeline of healthcare professionals dedicated to serving the community.
Notable Quote:
"Being able to imagine what graduate medical education could look like at our hospital and expanding that into a rural training site... is just the highlight of my career."
(04:00)
Achievements and Pride in Recent Work
Rebekah reflects on recent accomplishments, particularly in the realm of graduate medical education and its broader implications for the state's healthcare system.
Key Points:
- Sponsoring Institution: Conway Regional serves as its own sponsoring institution for GME, positioning itself to support other hospitals interested in developing their own residency programs.
- State-Wide Impact: There is significant potential for Conway Regional to influence GME conversations not just locally but throughout Arkansas, aiming to increase residency opportunities and, consequently, access to healthcare.
Notable Quote:
"I'm really proud of the work that the state is doing in medical education and I'm excited about the potential to be a part of the conversation for graduate medical education... to create opportunities for more residencies."
(05:36)
Advice for Emerging Leaders in Healthcare
Drawing from her 15-year experience at Conway Regional, Rebekah offers valuable advice to aspiring healthcare leaders aiming to achieve similar success and impact.
Key Points:
- Mentorship: Emphasizes the importance of finding and maintaining strong mentorship relationships. A good mentor invests in one’s personal and professional growth and provides a trustworthy guide in the complex healthcare landscape.
- Proactive Engagement: Encourages emerging leaders to demonstrate a strong work ethic by volunteering for projects and seeking out additional opportunities. Taking initiative is often a pathway to significant professional development and leadership roles.
- Collaboration and Support: Highlights the necessity of fostering a supportive environment where questions are welcomed, recognizing the complexity of healthcare and the value of collaborative problem-solving.
Notable Quote:
"Find a great mentor... someone that you can trust to work with. I think having a great mentor is really important and being willing to invest in people... be willing to raise your hand and ask for those opportunities."
(06:55)
Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
As the conversation winds down, Rebekah shares her perspective on the personal challenges within the healthcare sector and underscores the importance of self-care for those in the profession.
Key Points:
- Complexity of Healthcare: Acknowledges that working in healthcare is inherently challenging and can lead to burnout if self-care is neglected.
- Self-Investment: Advises healthcare professionals to prioritize their well-being, likening it to putting on one’s own oxygen mask before assisting others. This balance is crucial for sustained personal and professional effectiveness.
Notable Quote:
"Healthcare is complicated and it's complex... find ways to take care of yourself and invest in yourself. Put your oxygen mask on first."
(08:26)
Conclusion
Chanel Bunger wraps up the episode by thanking Rebekah Fincher for her insightful contributions. Listeners are left with a comprehensive understanding of the current challenges and innovative solutions within Arkansas’s healthcare system, particularly in maternal health and medical education. Rebekah’s experiences and advice offer valuable lessons for healthcare professionals and leaders aiming to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Closing Remark:
"Thank you so much for your time today and for sharing your insights on the Becker's Healthcare podcast."
(09:23)
This episode provides a deep dive into the strategic initiatives and personal experiences of a key healthcare leader, offering listeners both inspiration and practical guidance for navigating and contributing to the evolving landscape of U.S. healthcare.