Bethesda Hospital's Christiansen Named Woman to Watch

ST. PAUL, MN--(Marketwire - May 2, 2011) - Lia Christiansen, Operations Executive for Bethesda Hospital (member of HealthEast Care System), has been named one of 25 Women to Watch by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. She, along with the other winners, will be honored at a luncheon on May 12.

Christiansen, who has been with HealthEast since 1996, was selected for this honor based on her professional accomplishments and her community involvement.

Christiansen's nomination highlighted her dedication to growing the hospital's business presence; Bethesda is one of only two specialty, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) in Minnesota, providing care for patients who have experienced a life-changing illness or injury. These individuals are critically ill and medically complex; their diagnoses lead to a prolonged stay in an acute care environment such as Bethesda.

In her current role, Christiansen manages a team of 300 employees who are responsible for day-to-day hospital operations, ranging from pharmacy and physical medicine to facilities and guest relations.
She is known as a champion for the implementation of evidence-based, best practice methods to improve clinical outcomes, employee engagement and the patient experience.

In addition to her leadership of inpatient programs and services, Christiansen was responsible opening a variety of outpatient clinics for Bethesda Hospital including the Capistrant Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders and the HealthEast Concussion Clinic, the first-of-its-kind operation in the upper Midwest. Under her leadership, outpatient visits have increased 91 percent since 2008.

In spring 2010, Christiansen served as the hospital's Incident Commander as it readied for a nursing strike. She was charged with leading the integration of facilities/security, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications departments with employees, physicians, volunteers, vendors and the community to ensure business as usual during this extraordinary business occurrence.

Bethesda Hospital CEO Cathy Barr notes, "It is a privilege to work with someone who is so committed to superior results, so connected to her purpose and so devoted to our organization's mission and vision."

When she is away from work, Christiansen is involved in a variety of activities, including serving on the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board and mentoring a business student from Concordia College.

Christiansen holds a master's degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, and received her bachelor's degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Bethesda Hospital, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a specialty, long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) that treats more than 2,000 inpatients and outpatients each year who require intensive medical care following severe injury or illness. Signature programs include respiratory care, brain injury services, complex medical care, and medical behavioral services. Its mission is to help patients managing multiple medical conditions reinvent their lives as rich and meaningful and to empower them to overcome barriers and make the most of their abilities and talents. Bethesda Hospital has been providing compassionate care to the region for more than 127 years.