Rachelle Spencer has worked in healthcare for thirty years, and the role of Chief Executive Officer at Vibra Rehabilitation Hospital of Rancho Mirage (VRHRM) was a perfect fit for her. She had been hoping to relocate closer to family in Phoenix, Arizona and Vibra valued her career experience combined with her understanding of the desert heat – an ideal match! Rachelle’s path to Rancho Mirage is impressive. Originally hailing from Phoenix, Rachelle acquired her BSBA from Northern Arizona University and her MBA from Arizona State University.
Her journey commenced as the Director of Human Resources in a modest acute care hospital situated in Payson, Arizona where she learned the intricate operations of healthcare, ascending the ranks over the course of ten years to become the Assistant Chief Executive Officer. Rachelle subsequently spent five years as the VP of Business Development and the Associate Chief Executive Officer at the Tucson Heart Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. Following her time in Tucson, she returned to her roots in Phoenix as Chief Executive Officer at Kindred Phoenix, a long-term acute care hospital. In the realm of healthcare, connections often intertwine.
A serendipitous turn of events occurred when an acquaintance reached out to Rachelle about a CEO position at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She spent five years in that position until she was approached regarding the CEO role at Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital of Albuquerque. Intrigued due to her deep-rooted interest in acute rehabilitation which was fostered through the experiences of family members, she decided to pursue the interview, ultimately dedicating four years to this institution. Destiny, it seemed, had a hand in guiding Rachelle’s path.
A CEO acquaintance, aware of her desire to relocate closer to Phoenix without residing within the bustling city itself, passed along her name for the CEO vacancy at Vibra Rehabilitation Hospital of Rancho Mirage. Rachelle was instantly drawn to this vibrant community,the hospital’s team of compassionate caregivers, and the institution’s core values and guiding principles. The icing on the cake was the opportunity to collaborate with their joint venture partner, Eisenhower Health. Once Rachelle accepted the position the pieces effortlessly fell into place. She and her husband of 33 years, Jim, sold their Albuquerque home before it even hit MLS, and bought their new home in the valley through a Facetime tour.
Outside of work, there is golf and an amazing community. As Rachelle says, “The community is stunning! I love the mountain views, the seasonal flowers, great restaurants and the friendly people I have met so far.” As an inpatient rehabilitation hospital VRHRM provides expert care to help patients recover after a serious accident, injury or illness by providing comprehensive rehab programs based on each patient’s specific needs and goals. The state-of-the-art hospital employs a team of exceptional healthcare providers including physicians certified in Physical Medicine and rehab, specialized rehab nurses, physical, occupation, respiratory and speech therapists.
They all share a collective understanding that the hospital is only as good as its last patient’s outcome. Their tireless efforts aim to enhance patient satisfaction and foster functional gains. Amidst the demanding natureof their work, there is a moment that holds a special place in Rachelle’s heart. “My favorite part of the day is when we celebrate a patient’s ‘graduation’ – we call it Priority One. We all gather at the front door as each patient leaves, the theme from Rocky plays while we all applaud the patient. They are given a certificate signed by their care team.
It’s very emotional for the patient and their family, as well as for us. I like to say that it is not a Priority One unless we are all crying!” As CEO, Rachelle has big plans for VRHMR. The hospital was brand new when COVID hit so they had not been able to operate at full capacity. They are now building up their fulltime nursing and therapy teams to offer their outstanding patient outcomes and satisfaction to even more patients. Rachelle hopes to have VRHRM become Joint Commission certified for Stroke Rehabilitation, Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury in addition to their current Joint Commission inpatient certification.
To add to their accomplishments, expect to see a name change soon. While initially a joint venture with Eisenhower Health and Vibra Healthcare, the hospital is now a joint venture with Eisenhower and Ernest Health. The new name will reflect that change and also reflect a broader catchment area allowing even more people to benefit from their expertise and compassion.
