On the cusp of success: New CEO building a championship team at Summerville Medical Center
By Kristen Poland, Staff Writer

Teamwork, trust and consistency make up the heart of success. University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier understands this concept and displays it by building a foundation for the Gamecocks football program that he hopes in coming years will result in the team’s first-ever Southeastern Conference championship.

P.J. Johnson also understands this. As the new CEO of Summerville Medical Center (and devoted Gamecocks fan), Johnson is setting some lofty goals for her own team. She wants to increase the hospital’s reputation and value by improving services and expanding the role the medical center can play within the Summerville community.

In order to do this, she’s building relationships inside and outside the hospital, adding and improving infrastructure and resources and instilling in her staff a sense of pride characteristic of a winning team.

“We consider it a privilege to serve this community and we have to deliver on that commitment with every patient, every day, every time,” Johnson said. “The natural complexion of Summerville is that of a very close-knit community. There’s a promise we have to make to (the town’s residents) and keep because we are their neighbors.”

Since assuming her post in August, Johnson has spent time visiting with members of her hospital staff.

“I’m making sure I get out and meet the employees. I want to understand what their day looks like,” Johnson said. “I want them to get to know me, too—they all know I’m a Carolina fan.”

She also makes an effort to understand the challenges employees face in their jobs and to listen to suggestions for improvement they might have. A request by one employee led Johnson to purchase dry-erase boards for each patient room as a way to improve communication among hospital staff.

“We value the role every employee plays,” Johnson said. “Everybody in the organization makes the organization successful. I want everyone who works here to be proud of what they do. It isn’t possible to be happy in your job every single day, but pride is sustainable.”

A Georgia native, Johnson, 51, began nursing work at her alma mater, the Medical College of Georgia. After moving to Charleston, she worked for Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and, finally, Trident Health System. She served as chief nursing officer and chief operating officer from 1996 to 2000 at Summerville Medical Center before moving to Trident Medical Center. At Trident, Johnson served as chief operating officer before making the move back to Summerville in August as CEO.

As the Summerville area continues to expand, Johnson knows the hospital must grow with it. She’s building relationships with local business leaders to expand the hospital’s presence within the community.

“Summerville has one of the fastest-growing populations in the state and the nation. By listening to what the growth plans are, I can align our strategic plan with the community’s growth plan,” Johnson said. “What I hear is a unified desire to grow and to support what our community needs to grow well.”