From The Orange County Register
By Jenna Chandler/ Staff Writer
Age: 60
Job: Chief executive, Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Bio: Kim Cripe, who has a master’s degree in public administration in health care, has worked in the industry for more than three decades. Her tenure at CHOC began in 1991; she previously worked for Humana. She lives in San Juan Capistrano.
Why she’s an influencer: In 2015, Cripe led CHOC as it committed to building an 18-bed inpatient psychiatric treatment center for children ages 3-18. Thousands of children in the county have a mental illness, but there are no psychiatric hospital beds for children under 12 and, countywide, just 32 such beds for teens. Also this year, CHOC’s emergency department saw a 30 percent jump in the number of visits.
Biggest challenge: The bump in the ER department. “Usually, for a hospital, if you grow 1 or 2 percent in one year, that’s a big deal.”
Work philosophy: “Deliver excellence, whether you’re the neurosurgeon or the person preparing needles for patients, or the person greeting a person through the front door.”
Inspiration: The resilience, hope and joy of patients and their families as they’re going through difficult circumstances. “You can’t walk through the doors of CHOC and not feel very grateful.”
Can’t do without: “The team of people I’m fortunate to work with.”
What’s next: In January, construction begins on the $27 million psychiatric unit.
