Leading with Quality and Culture from the CEO Seat with Les Hirsch

In this episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Laura Deirdre sits down with Les Hirsch, President and CEO of St. Peter's Healthcare System in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to discuss how leadership, culture, and mission drive quality and patient safety in healthcare. Hirsch emphasizes that St. Peter's, as a single-hospital, independent Catholic health system with over 120 years of history, has cultivated a deeply rooted family-like culture centered on service, compassion, and clinical excellence. He shares his personal experience with a post-surgical infection, which deepened his commitment to patient safety and quality, and explains how he leads from the top by making quality a daily priority—reviewing infection metrics each morning and holding leaders accountable. The conversation highlights St. Peter's distinction as one of only six hospitals worldwide to achieve seven consecutive Magnet designations with distinction, underscoring the organization’s nursing excellence as a cornerstone of its culture and patient outcomes. Hirsch also discusses the future of St. Peter's culture, noting ongoing investments in technology—including an upcoming Epic electronic health record implementation and AI tools—to support staff and improve care delivery. He stresses the importance of transparency, psychological safety, and continuous improvement, rejecting the idea of 'victory' in quality and instead embracing a mindset of perpetual growth. The organization remains committed to strategic partnerships and expanding its ambulatory care network while preserving its unique identity and mission-driven values. The episode concludes with Hirsch expressing a strong belief in sharing knowledge and helping other healthcare systems improve through collaboration.