Board/Examiner Spotlight: John Kueven

John Kueven

Second Year Examiner

Member, Healthcare Symposium Committee

Member, Board of Directors

Sterling Council

Senior Vice President

WellStar Health Systems

Hospital President, WellStar Paulding Hospital

John Kueven, who specializes in health care management, strategic planning, performance improvement, and utilization management, has been SVP of Wellstar Health System and President of Wellstar Paulding Hospital since March 2018. While at Paulding, John has helped lead the organization to achieving an “A” rating from leapfrog, a 5 Star CMS rating, and the Georgia Oglethorpe award, the first and only hospital in Georgia to receive the State Baldrige Award.

As a Board Member and second year Examiner, John is highly involved with Sterling. Today, we honor him and his efforts to promote best practices.

If you could tell an Examiner going through site visits for the first time one thing, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to spread out the work, stay organized, and lean on your team to help you. Even the most experienced examiners need help, and understanding the process can feel overwhelming at times, but everyone feels that, which is why it is perfectly fine to ask for help.

On site visit, which category are you most comfortable with (and most uncomfortable with) when querying the applicant?

I am most comfortable with Category 1, although this year I am serving as results lead for the first time and really enjoying that role.

In what ways does looking through somebody else’s strengths and OFIs help you when assessing the performance of your own organization?  

It is always great to see how organizations use the framework to align their work. Being an examiner helps each of us to push to make our own organizations that much better.  This process allows us to see organizations striving for excellence, which is certainly inspiring, but also gives us a challenge to work to meet what others are doing.

What do you hope never changes?

IBC Rootbeer

What is your dream car?

1957 Corvette

What skill would you like to master?

Playing any musical instrument, guitar, piano, tambourine, anything, because I am in no way musically gifted.

What is the best way to start your day? 

Ideally a workout, coffee, and a banana

Why did you decide to do the work you are doing now? 

I am passionate about healthcare and providing high quality safe care. I believe the healthcare industry has plenty of room for improvement and I hope to be a small part of that.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

The Sterling Conference, of course!