Hospital chief administrative officer addresses Rotary Club

Robert Peglow, chief administrative officer at Saint Highlands Hospital, in Sparta

The Rotary Club of Sparta met at noon, Nov. 4, at the Green Gator restaurant, at Sparta Country Club.

Rotarian Buddy Dicus introduced Robert Peglow, chief administrative officer of Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital, in Sparta, to the Club.

A native of Northern Michigan, Peglow said he fell in love with Tennessee when he visited Gatlinburg 30 years ago but made Tennessee his home in 2011.

“Where I come from, it’s very similar to here: lots of woods, animals, hunting and fishing,” Peglow described. “I feel right at home.”

Peglow has an extensive career.  Following service in the Marine Corps, he sought a career where he could help others heal and became a registered nurse.  Peglow also obtained a human resources degree and master’s in business administration when he entered hospital administration.

Speaking on Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital, Peglow noted that Sparta’s hospital is part of a unique system including three major facilities: Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital (formerly Saint Thomas West), and Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.

“Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital is known around the country for cardiac care, including performing heart transplants,” Peglow said.

“Woodbury has become, primarily, a psychiatric facility,” Peglow said. “The other three offer a variety of services with River Park, in McMinnville, being the largest followed by Highlands, in Sparta.”

Peglow also spoke on the COVID pandemic. 

“We have story after story of 20-and-30-year-olds that are otherwise healthy who are in ICUs with COVID,” Peglow said. “I would like folks to understand that the Delta variant is very dangerous and, when viruses change and mutate, they become harder to kill.”

Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital’s COVID precautions remain in place, and Peglow stated that the community can help protect sick and immunocompromised hospital patients by wearing masks inside its facility.

In closing, Peglow stated that his vision for Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital has three pillars.  First, he wants to make sure that Sparta’s hospital is the area’s healthcare provider of choice.  Second, he wants Saint Thomas Highlands to be the healthcare employer of choice because attracting the best healthcare employees will mean better care for the community.  And, finally, he wants Saint Thomas Highlands to be the community partner of choice.

“Every decision I make as CAO is as simple as one question,” Peglow said. “If my wife and children were lying in that hospital bed, could I walk away and know they are getting the best care? That is our ultimate goal, because if it isn’t good enough for my wife and kids then it’s not good enough for anyone else.”