After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biophysics from La Sierra University, Richard Huse, RN, did what any child of two physicians would do—he headed to medical school. However, he quickly discovered that becoming a doctor wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. So Huse opted to pursue a different career path and was soon working as a surgical trauma nurse in Loma Linda University Medical Center’s (LLUMC) ICU.

“I really enjoyed nursing,” recalled Huse of his early career days. “The clinical skills I honed during that time and my interactions with patents and their family members are still aspects of the job that I really miss.”

Early on Huse knew he wanted to eventually be in a position where he had the opportunity to make the patient experience the best it could be. After working in a clinical role for a number of years, he transitioned into management.

A New Challenge

Huse served as director of Nursing Quality Management at LLUMC for seven years, but when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he moved north to be closer to her. His job search led him to Feather River Hospital (FRH) in Paradise and he quickly fell in love with the quaint Northern California town.

As director of Quality Resource Management at the 122-bed facility, Huse is responsible for case management, discharge planning, and quality and accreditation issues.

“Quality is something that infuses itself into every aspect of hospital operations,” asserted Huse. “At FRH we are constantly working toward continual preparedness for hospital accreditation, and always looking at ways that we can improve our care and the patient experience.”

Quality: A Top Priority

Huse is quick to point out that at FRH, quality has always been an important priority. During his first interview, he was impressed with the emphasis the facility placed on providing the best possible care to its patients.

“One thing that really made me want to work for Adventist Heath was the emphasis that the system puts on quality,” stated Huse. “When I interviewed for my current position I was impressed when I discovered that quality initiatives and best practices were a part of FRH’s strategic plan, and that these objectives were known throughout the employee ranks.”

Huse's passion for pursuing excellence in health care isn’t simply a reflection of his job title. He believes that hospital accreditation and quality initiatives are simply the right thing to do—required or not. Bottom line, they improve patient care and that is reason enough to strive to meet the various regulations and requirements.

“As a Christian organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that our patients have a good experience when they come to our hospital,” said Huse. “I am proud to say that I work with some of the strongest Christians I have ever known. The spirituality and emphasis on mission-driven health care is phenomenal at our facility and it translates into better care for those we serve.”