Paul Hiltz – The Visionary President and CEO Behind the Transformation of NCH into an Advanced Community Healthcare System

A key feature of any thriving community – in particular, one recently voted again as the Best Place to Live in America – is quality healthcare close to home. While Naples offers incredible weather and small-town charm, a driving factor in the growth of our community is the impressive developments taking place at NCH. With Paul Hiltz at the helm, the appeal of the place we call home is growing even more substantially.

Paul Hiltz joined Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) in 2019 after a long career in hospital administration, most recently as President and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio. A dynamic and extremely accomplished individual, Hiltz is an icon of leadership and management strategy success. Not only does Hiltz have over 25 years’ experience working within healthcare systems and hospital boards across the country, but he has an extensive track record focusing on a collaborative approach with local communities, leading to effective cooperation and action to improve those communities in which he served.

Chosen unanimously by the NCH Board after a national search, Hiltz is a solutions-driven leader with a visionary and innovative approach to patient care and community relations. His collaborative style ensures high standards of care and policy are maintained while connecting with key stakeholders in the hospital, government agencies, and the community. He truly believes in the mission of NCH as a community hospital, a locally governed independent non-profit with nationally recognized health care.

Hiltz came on board shortly before the Covid crisis in 2019 and spoke of the extremely challenging period as, in fact, a great way to get to know Naples and its residents. He states, “We got through that time with incredible support from the community. I was so impressed with the vast amount of assistance we received, from thousands of meals donated by local restaurants, donations of masks, gloves, and more…it was a true partnership with the city to keep people safe.”

Two years following the pandemic, NCH is now focusing on ambitious new projects that promise to continue to bring cutting-edge healthcare right to Southwest Florida. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) at NCH broke ground last November on the Musculoskeletal Center at the Patty and Jay Baker Pavilion located at the NCH North campus. Providing a world class inpatient and outpatient service for local orthopedic care, NCH is proud to be partnering with the hospital rated “Best in the World” by Consumer Reports for unparalleled orthopedic care and rehabilitation. Additionally, HSS at NCH will involve a close alignment with Arthrex, putting NCH and Naples on the map as a destination for world-renowned orthopedic care. The 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2025.

Another new project on the horizon is the NCH Rooney Heart Institute. Having recently achieved approval from the City Council to build the $200 million NCH Heart, Vascular, and Stroke Institute at the downtown Baker campus, NCH plans to raze the existing Telford Education Center to make way for the new center of cardiac and stroke excellence. This new facility will be one of the top in America, providing excellent care and top notch heart specialists all in one setting with the latest in technology, advanced practitioners, and resources right here in Naples, eliminated the need for residents to travel to seek care elsewhere. Construction is slated to begin soon on the parking garage, with demolition of the Telford building in early 2025. From there, it should be approximately 2 years until the doors of the new institute open to see its first patient.

Until then, work continues to improve upon the quality of care offered as evidenced late last year when the NCH Wingard Stroke Institute earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Comprehensive Stroke Center Accreditation. NCH is one of only five Joint Commission accredited comprehensive stroke facilities in the state and the only one on the west coast of Florida.

Other exciting developments include NCH’s continued expansion of the residency program with over 60 physicians in training. A severe nationwide shortage of doctors and nurses is expected in the coming years, so communities that focus on attracting the best medical talent will be positioned to weather the storm best. Hiltz and NCH leaders have recognized this as they continue to invest in this program which will help our community for generations to come to make sure we have a steady stream of new medical talent ready to step in and care for our residents.

NCH also recently received the Pathway to Excellence Award for nursing. Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, NCH was the only healthcare facility in the region and one of only 215 centers on the globe to achieve this recognition for nursing excellence.

Marco Island will soon be home to a newly rebuilt free standing state-of-the-art urgent care facility. Breaking ground in March, the new facility will replace the existing urgent care center which has served island residents for more than 30 years. The new building will offer urgent care services and space for physician practices in the future. The project has received ardent support from the Marco community with two local families pledging a total of $9 million towards the expansion.

NCH continues to bring new and innovative medical techniques and procedures to Southwest Florida by participating in national research clinical trials more often seen at academic centers. By partnering with global medical equipment and procedure leaders, NCH is able to offer our community cutting edge healthcare that is available in only a handful of other places around the world where the same clinical trials are taking place.

A further exciting development is the health system’s new look and identity. The rebrand includes a new logo and change in colors to better reflect the sophistication and elevated health offerings now available at NCH along with an enhanced level of quality care. NCH is the area’s only independent Advanced Community Healthcare System™ and trusted community pillar which is expanding access to leading-edge quality care and accomplished clinicians.

Hiltz reflects on the importance of philanthropy in all of these endeavors. NCH cares for patients regardless of their ability to pay and provides over $40 million in charity/uncompensated care locally each year. That, coupled with the drive to bring world-class care closer to home, is where the financial support of our generous community has played a significant role in where NCH is going in the future – not unlike the role philanthropy played in starting the small 50-bed hospital on the edge of town over 65 years ago.

Hiltz states, “What is driving our success is the support of this community. We are currently undertaking the largest philanthropic initiative for a community health system in America. We are growing in the right direction responsibly while aiming for zero mortgages on any of our new buildings. And as our footprint expands, we plan to pay off projects in their entirety.”

He goes on to talk about what makes Naples a special town. “I have found Naples to be such a unique place with the outpouring of support by so many philanthropic individuals living here. I am so proud of what we are achieving together. It is an exciting and bright future,” Hiltz remarks, “and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”