Bradley Kreick, a lifelong resident of Nashua, has more than 25 years of management experience in health care outside NH.
Now he has a chance to bring that expertise to bear in his own state. Kreick took the helm as CEO of SolutionHealth, the organization that integrates two of the state’s largest health care systems—Elliot Health System in Manchester and Southern NH Health System of Nashua.
“It’s a perfect fit for where I am in my life right now,” Kreick, who became CEO in December, says.
He previously served as an executive at Apria Healthcare, Oxford Health Plans and Healthsource and started out on the payer side of the equation before transitioning to leadership positions. But he’s still affected by his earlier training. “There’s a tremendous opportunity to continue to provide health care in more efficient settings,” he says.
He says like other health organizations, SolutionHealth’s two health care systems are experiencing higher COVID cases now than at the peak at of the first wave. And staffing remains a significant challenge with more than 200 open positions.
“It’s nothing short of heroic what our colleagues are doing day in and day out, taking care of non-COVID patients and a significant number of COVID patients that have hit in the past couple of weeks and will be with us for some time now,” Kreick says. “The good news is our system is extremely stable and strong financially. It is a testament to the leadership of both organizations over an extended period of time. We have been able to weather the storm.”
Aside from COVID, Kreick notes SolutionHealth’s priorities, which will require investments, include developing resources to meet the needs of an aging population and evolving to a value-based reimbursement method as opposed to fee for service.
Serving the local community is entrenched in Kreick. He cites his deep roots in Nashua, having graduated from Nashua High School and married his high school sweetheart, Beth.
“My folks instilled a sense of community in us growing up and made sure we knew how important it is to constantly give back,” says Kreick, who is head coach of the Bishop Guertin High School Girls Basketball Team and chair of the Rivier University’s board of trustees.
He adds he has three passions in his life: his family, health care and the Bishop Guertin team. “They are a joy to coach. They keep me planted firmly on the ground.”