Dr. Berry’s story
After finishing medical school and residency at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, Dr. Lonnie Berry knew where he wanted to establish his career in emergency medicine. “I always wanted to come back home to provide medical care,” Dr. Berry said.
His home is Logan, West Virginia, approximately one hour outside of Charleston, the state’s capital. The small town of 1,700 people is in a county of approximately 32,000 people.
Leadership development
Logan Regional Medical Center is a 120-bed facility that sees an average of 80 emergency department (ED) patients daily. That’s where Dr. Berry has served as a TeamHealth physician for the past year. He quickly gained the respect of his colleagues in the TeamHealth LifePoint Group and was named Facility Medical Director after being on staff for less than six months.
Dr. Berry now leads an ED team of 14 full-time physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Through his leadership, the clinical staff has significantly reduced ED wait times and reduced the total patient length of stay by about 10%.
Working in a small-town facility can be challenging. “It’s a busy hospital, because there aren’t many primary care facilities in the area,” Dr. Berry explained. “It’s not uncommon to have older patients come in who have never been to primary care.”
Dr. Berry believes he is in the right place for his career. “I enjoy taking care of people in rural communities,” he said. “They are always appreciative of the care they receive. Even when you’re outside of the hospital, there is a level of respect that is unlike other communities.”
Practice Made Perfect
Dr. Berry appreciates the support he receives from the hospital’s administration, as they often encourage their clinicians to get involved in the community by offering health screenings and education at schools and events.
He also appreciates the resources available from TeamHealth. Outside of it being his hometown facility, Dr. Berry credits TeamHealth’s leadership for drawing him to work there. “I was intrigued by the fact that they were physician-built,” he explained. “TeamHealth was started by physicians and is still run by physicians. The focus is not on business but on providing safe, high-quality patient care. It’s gratifying to see a company like TeamHealth that demonstrates a deep commitment to rural healthcare through their longstanding relationship with LifePoint and other rural community health organizations.”
Make a difference in rural healthcare
When you join a LifePoint Health team through TeamHealth, you gain the chance to practice in an environment where integrated care leads to better patient experiences and outcomes. As you lead your team to reach goals and deliver outstanding patient care, you’ll have the direction of two industry-leading healthcare companies, plus the opportunity to share and shape best practices.
View our available LifePoint Health leadership opportunities here.