Name: Eric Floyd, MD
Hospital/System where you serve: I have been a board member for the Parker County Hospital District for the last 18 years. I served as President of the board from 2008-2011.
Hometown: Weatherford, TX
Occupation: Emergency Medicine Physician
Family: I have been married my wife, Claudia, for 28 years. We have two daughters, Hannah, 23, and Charlotte, 20. We love spending time with our Australian Shepherd and beagle.
Hobbies/Interests: Travel, working in the yard, personal finance and investing
As a Board Member…
What has been most rewarding during your board service? The most rewarding part of being a PCHD board member is getting the opportunity to improve the community that I live in. I have also enjoyed the friendships with fellow board members and PCHD employees.
What has been the most challenging issue for your board? My most challenging issue is trying to understand health care finances. I am grateful to THT for providing education and guidance on this topic. The most challenging issue for our board was the decision to lease our hospital in 2006. Certainly, COVID-19 was a challenge both personally and from a board standpoint.
What has been the biggest surprise during your board service? The biggest surprise is how difficult it is to maintain a hospital’s financial viability. It is also surprising how long it can take to complete a project.
What was your/your board’s proudest moment? A recent proud moment was when the PCHD EMS graduated its first class of EMTs and paramedics. Also, our EMS has a wall dedicated to patients who were in cardiac arrest and survived due to the heroic actions taken by our paramedics. I am always proud of our EMS when another name is placed on that wall. My daughter’s 3rd-grade teacher suffered cardiac arrest and survived due to excellent care from the PCHD EMS – A very proud and thankful moment!
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a board member? The most valuable lesson of serving on the PCHD board is understanding how vital a rural hospital and clinic are to the community. EMS, outreach, and the medical assistance program are important to our community. Every board has difficulties maintaining these functions, but we know the valuable service we provide to our community.
What are your board’s priority areas for 2023? The main priority is designing and building a medical office across the street from the hospital. The board will continue to expand EMS, operate a rural health clinic, provide telemedicine to the schools, and provide outreach services. We also continue to reduce the tax burden on the citizens of Parker County by lowering taxes and practicing fiscal discipline.
Why did you choose to become a Certified Healthcare Trustee? I want to be an active and valuable member of the hospital board. I recognize there are many areas of health care I need more education, such as healthcare finance and governance. Becoming a CHT helps me achieve this. The THT Healthcare Governance Conference is an outstanding conference for gaining knowledge and networking with others in similar situations.
About Me:
My Background: I was born and raised in Dallas and am a proud native Texan! I attended UT Austin, majored in mechanical engineering, and met my wife in Austin. I went to medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas. I did my residency in Corpus Christi, and we moved to Weatherford in 2000. We raised two wonderful daughters and are now “empty nesters”!
Childhood Ambition: I loved all sports, but especially baseball. I was very good as a child and dreamed about playing in college or farther. Unfortunately, those plans did not work out!
My Favorite Person: My Wife.
Last Place I Traveled: Ruidoso, NM
What Are You Reading? I most often read UpToDate for clinical information. The last books I read were The Great Influenza by John M. Barry and The Hot Zone by Richard Preston.
Best City in Texas: The best town in Texas is Weatherford! It has a small-town feel, and it is close to the DFW metroplex. It is growing fast, and the traffic can be frustrating! I also love Port Aransas, Big Bend, and the Texas Hill Country.