In early July, Concord, Mass.-based Emerson Health appointed Rachel Wasserstrom as senior vice president and chief strategy officer. To this role, Ms. Wasserstrom brings more than 20 years of healthcare experience from both academic medical centers and community health systems.
Becker’s connected with Ms. Wasserstrom to discuss how healthcare is rapidly shifting closer to home, and how Emerson is uniquely positioned to expand access, improve services and drive innovation for the patients it serves. She also shared her vision for blending academic medicine strengths with a personalized touch of community-based care.
Emerson Health provides care to more than 300,000 people across 25 cities and towns. It comprises Emerson Hospital in Concord and multiple health and urgent care centers, according to its website.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What excites you most about joining Emerson Health at this time?
Rachel Wasserstrom: Emerson Health has long been known for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and that strong foundation makes this a pivotal time. Healthcare is rapidly shifting closer to home, and Emerson is uniquely positioned to expand access, strengthen services and bring innovation to the communities we serve. What excites me most is the chance to blend Emerson’s personal, community-based care with the resources of our academic health system partners, creating a model of healthcare that is both deeply local and forward-looking.
Q: What drew you to Emerson Health from an academic medical center and how do you see your background aligning with the organization’s mission?
RW: What drew me to Emerson is its clear commitment to personalized, community-based care, a mission that is both timeless and increasingly vital. My background in academic medical centers and community health systems has given me insight into how each setting operates: the scale and specialization of academic medicine, and the agility and intimacy of community care.
At Emerson, I see the opportunity to bring those strengths together, leveraging academic partnerships while keeping the focus on what matters most: delivering accessible, high-quality care close to home.
Q: How do you see the role of community hospitals evolving in today’s healthcare landscape?
RW: Community hospitals are no longer just local access points — they are becoming central hubs for delivering high-quality, cost-effective care closer to where patients live and work. Care is increasingly being decentralized, shifting beyond hospital walls into outpatient clinics, urgent care and even the home. This movement expands access and lowers costs for patients and the system overall.
Primary care and preventive services, including screenings and chronic disease management, will be more critical in helping patients stay healthier and avoid higher-cost interventions. At the same time, community hospitals must continue to serve as a seamless gateway to academic medical centers when advanced or highly specialized care is needed.
Innovation will also shape the future — virtual care, AI-enabled tools and new models of care delivery that meet patients where they are. While the platforms and technologies evolve, the mission remains constant: ensuring accessible, high-quality, personalized care for the community. Community hospitals like Emerson are uniquely positioned to carry that mission forward, combining trusted local relationships with progressive strategies that keep pace with the changing healthcare environment.
Q: How do you see patient expectations changing, and how is Emerson Health positioned to meet those needs?
RW: Patients today want simple, convenient,and personalized healthcare. They no longer expect to spend hours on the phone or jump through hoops to get the care they deserve. Instead, they want access that fits seamlessly into their daily lives — whether that means extended hours, urgent care, virtual visits or digital tools that make it easy to schedule and connect. They also want proactive communication and preventive care that helps them stay healthy, not just treatment when they are sick.
Emerson Health is well-positioned to deliver on these expectations. We combine the personalized attention of a community hospital with expanded access through urgent care centers, telehealth, and user-friendly technology. While models of care will continue to evolve with virtual care and AI, our focus remains constant: providing safe, high-quality and affordable care close to home.
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