Dignity Health Nevada leader retiring after 23 years

Rod Davis has just days remaining at the helm of Dignity Health Nevada, but he continues singing the praises of the company he has served for nearly a quarter century.

“The vision of the Adrian Sisters: We call it the art of healing,” Davis said last week across the street from St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, a facility he considers one of his greatest professional accomplishments. “They believe nothing is more important than the patient. That every patient, no matter who they are, should be treated with respect, with dignity and with compassion.”

Those sisters turned over their health care operation to Davis in 1991, and from the humble beginnings of St. Rose de Lima Hospital, the Idaho native has overseen growth that gives Dignity Health Nevada a 17 percent share among the 17 acute care hospitals in Southern Nevada. With de Lima and Siena plus St. Rose Dominican Hospital, San Martin campus, the nonprofit company has 537 beds in its acute care facilities, and an expansion underway at Siena will add another 100 beds.

Davis, 66, director of strategy and management for Dignity Health Nevada who retires at the end of the month, led the addition of ambulatory surgery centers, an outreach laboratory, women’s health clinics and outpatient radiology centers. He helped establish a relationship with Stanford Health Care, allowing staff of the two entities to work together in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiothoracic and neurological disorders.

Having competent staff members, acquiring the most current and cutting edge technology, and having the right blend of services are key to providing quality care, Davis said, but the relationships among doctors, nurses, therapists, support personnel and administrative staff are the most important elements in running a successful medical operation. Davis always wanted the Dignity mantra, “Hello humankindness,” to be the standard in the workplace, not just the advertising campaign.

“It’s about supporting the caregivers,” he said. “We’re there making sure everything is working smoothly, and ensuring people who are providing the services have the resources and support to do the job right. I’ve always told our managers, we’re not here to direct. We’re here to serve.”

Eliminating duplication and waste are essential in creating a system that is as efficient as possible.

“It’s not about making the employees work harder,” he said. “That is not the right answer.”

Davis has had other offers over the years, but he has stayed in Southern Nevada because of his commitment to the Adrian Sisters’ mission and his collaborations with health care professionals, especially doctors. Physicians are competitive, Davis said, but they will change their approach or practice without hesitation if patient outcomes will be improved.

“What I have found in health care is a very talented group of people with a very strong dedication to what (it’s) doing,” he said. “Doctors are highly skilled and very proud of the work that they do. It’s not cookbook medicine. They want to follow the processes that produce the best result.”

Davis’ designated successor is Brian G. Brannman, vice president of operations of Dignity Health Nevada and CEO of the Siena campus. Davis will be involved in the community, including his service on the Nevada State College President’s Council, offering advice to the school from a health care provider’s perspective. He will continue to work as a consultant in retirement and not just for the financial gain.

“There’s something intrinsically rewarding about being in health care because you’re helping people who are in need whether they’re in pain or they’re worrying or they have anxiety,” he said. “We’re there to help them.”

Contact Steven Moore at smoore@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563.