Joan Thompson (BSN, RN) oversees two operating rooms, one at St. Mary’s and an outpatient surgical center, Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center.
She ensures coordination, communication and efficiency. Her main areas of focus are patient experience, quality, access and strategic growth. In addition to leading the surgical performance team, she sits on the environment of care, infection prevention and sharps, spine and ortho and emergency preparedness committees.
What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?
I was among the team leaders at St. Mary’s to acquire and successfully integrate a third surgical robot. I led data-driven planning with the robotics team to support growth, productivity and case distribution. This work contributed to the expansion of surgical capabilities and improved outcomes.
Also, I was the regional OR and procedural area team leader for our new EPIC upgrade implementation, and along with many teams and committees, successfully maintained our surgical site infection rate well below the national average.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
Nationally, staffing has been a challenge. But collaboration with our talent acquisition partners and our professional development specialists and educational teams have helped get us to where we need to be.
We are not just maintaining volume. We are exceeding our targets and providing superior service and receiving high patient satisfaction scores in a very competitive market.
What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?
My next challenge is to ensure our service lines deliver the highest quality care in a safe, efficient and compassionate environment — always keeping patients at the center. I’m focused on expanding our reach, staying on the cutting edge of technology and continuously enhancing the patient experience to remain competitive and deliver exceptional outcomes.
How are you involved in the community?
I volunteer at Little Britches, which provides therapeutic and equine-assisted riding to people with various disabilities. I participate in many activities and campaigns through St. Mary’s that benefit the community, especially initiatives that support schools, either with supplies or educational opportunities.
Fun Fact
I love horseback riding, hiking and biking with my high school sweetheart, my husband of 41 years. I love driving his stick-shift corvette.