Mary Ellen Pratt, FACHE
Mary Ellen Pratt is the CEO of St. James Parish Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital located in Lutcher, Louisiana. As a graduate of Tulane University with a Master of Health Administration, Pratt started her career in the c-suite of academic medical centers and large community hospitals, but the last 15 years she has been dedicated to rural health.
Her leadership in rural health care is evidenced by the fact she currently serves as a member of the Board of the National Rural Resource Center, Caravan ACO Collaborative, and the AHA’s Future of Rural Taskforce and was the past Chair of the AHA Small Rural Hospital Governing Council. At the state level, she is on the Board of the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition, and NAMI Louisiana.
She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Rural Health Association. Mary Ellen was named in Becker’s “50 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know” for 6 consecutive years, from 2015-2020. Pratt has also participated in numerous speaking engagements at many state association events.
Presentation
The COVID-19 crisis disrupted St. James Parish Hospital and lead to significant feelings of burnout among staff. The presentation will provide a discussion of the principles of crisis management and how it can lead to staff burnout. Ms. Pratt will explain how COVID-19 created a crisis which lead to burnout at the hospital and provide examples of strategies the hospital used to support staff and reduce burnout.
Objectives:
- Identify the principles of crisis management.
- Discuss how COVID-19 lead to burn-out among staff.
- Implement strategies to support staff with feelings of burn-out.