Winsted Health Center Has New Leader

WINSTED — Carole D. Organek of Waterbury is the newest CEO of the Winsted Health Center Foundation.For the past three months, she has been developing a long-term business plan designed to meet the medical needs of the community now and in the future.

Organek is responsible for attracting new health-care providers and services, fund development, managing building renovations and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the health center. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise, specifically in the health-care facility management area.

"I don’t think there is a question of a need for services here," said Organek. "There is a need. Basically, we want to bring more to the area. I think everybody in the community recognizes we need this service in the area."

As far as getting the job done, Organek said, "I think it’s doable."

Prior to joining the Winsted Health Center Foundation, Organek was the operations vice president and managing director of JMP Group, Inc., where she traveled around the world developing business and financial plans for health-care startups and turnaround companies. Her management duties included building remodels, operations, marketing and grant and venture capital funding sources, all of which are a large part of her job description at the Winsted Health Center.

The Winsted Health Center sits on over 14 acres, most of which are currently undeveloped. More than 13 different types of services are provided at the health center. An emergency room, laboratory and the radiology department account for over 61,000 patient visits in the last year alone. Another 17,000 patient visits were for services such as veterans primary care, pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation, the sleep lab, naturopathic medicine and mental health.

Working 12-hour days, Organek has big plans for the Winsted Health Center, including expanding the services currently provided and renovating two floors of the center to allow for new office space. Her main focus will be balancing the cost for renovations against the income stream that will be produced from renting the renovated spaces.

"With Ms. Organek’s leadership, our organization will be assured new life and vigor, continued growth and the addition of new health services," said Anita Holmes, president of the WHC Board of Trustees. "We are most fortunate to have found such a high caliber professional to work with us in our mission to bring quality health-care services to the residents of our service area."

The Winsted Health Center Foundation was founded in 1997 in an effort to bring quality health-care services to the community. The foundation provides the leadership to develop programs and manage the location for all ambulatory and emergency health services.