Welcome to 2025 – Making Possibilities a Reality

The beginning of any year often brings resolutions—a time to set goals and strive for improvement. This year, I want to shift our focus from resolutions to possibilities. As former Apple CEO John Sculley once said, "The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious." At UCR Health, we see those possibilities through our commitment to teamwork, exceptional outcomes, and living our best lives, both personally and professionally.

Let’s reflect on the highlights of 2024 and explore the exciting opportunities awaiting us in 2025.

Looking Back: Key Achievements in 2024

Increased Patient Volume
We are proud to see more patients per month than ever before. This milestone reflects our mission to improve health outcomes for the Inland Empire. While facing challenges like staffing shortages and physician availability, we remain focused on positioning UCR Health and the Inland Empire as a hub for innovation and progressive care solutions.

Behavioral Health Innovations
Behavioral health remains a critical need in our communities. In 2024, we took significant strides to improve access by:

• Expanding contracts to include more behavioral health patients.
• Promoting telemedicine, with 90% of behavioral health patients now accessing care through this medium.

These efforts are transforming mental health care delivery, helping to ensure that more people receive the support they need.

Growth in Women’s Health and Pediatrics
Women’s health and pediatric services have also experienced remarkable growth. These surges in patient volume challenge us to innovate continuously, and we’ve risen to the occasion with new approaches to care delivery that prioritize accessibility and quality.

Looking Ahead: What’s on the Horizon for 2025

Launching the UCR Health Resource Finder
This month, we are introducing the UCR Health Resource Finder, a groundbreaking platform powered by Findhelp. Findhelp connects patients, families, and communities with essential social services such as food assistance, transportation, and housing support. Resource Finder enables us to enhance care coordination, reduce inequities, and support the well-being of our patients beyond clinical care by addressing the social drivers of health. This platform reflects our dedication to improving health outcomes and tackling social determinants of health head-on.

Building a “Hub & Spoke” Clinical Network
Together with our sister UCs, we are working to establish a distributed “Hub & Spoke” network that integrates hospitals, clinics, and providers. This approach will:

• Improve access to specialized care across the Inland Empire.
• Strengthen collaboration among providers for better care continuity.

Enhancing Clinical Education and Training
Our commitment to education remains at the heart of our mission. In 2025, we will:

• Expand clinical education programs and residency opportunities.
• Collaborate with other UC campuses to support physician development and training.

These initiatives will help address the critical provider shortages in our region and ensure a robust pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals.

Advancing Clinical Quality and Infrastructure
We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional care by:

• Enhancing clinical quality metrics to meet and exceed state and national standards.
• Collaborating with other UCs to expand infrastructure and integrate clinics for improved efficiency.

The Road Ahead: Turning Possibilities into Realities

As we look to 2025 and beyond, we remain steadfast in our mission to serve as a trusted partner in care for the Inland Empire. We are shaping a future defined by innovation, equity, and excellence. Every step we take transforms possibilities into realities.

Let’s embrace the opportunities this new year brings and continue making a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.