What happens if the healthcare services we depend on simply aren’t there—if an ambulance doesn’t arrive on time, if hospitals don’t have enough caring staff, or if families lose trust in the system? Without the right guidance and support, these situations can quickly become real, especially in places where resources are limited. This is why strong and visionary leadership in healthcare is so important. It ensures patients receive the care they need, staff feel supported in their work, and communities can rely on safe, trusted services.
One such leader making this vision a reality is Victor Bycroft, Chief Nurse Executive at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH). “He brings stability, direction, and a people-first culture that goes far beyond managing nursing operations. By inspiring staff, strengthening teams, embracing innovation, and mentoring future leaders, he transformed the hospital from a struggling system into a trusted healthcare provider. He shaped strategic plans, led cultural transformation, and expanded services.
His leadership has improved patient outcomes, enhanced the hospital’s reputation, and ensured reliable care during shortages and uncertainty. By fostering a culture wherepatients are treated with dignity, staff are empowered, and innovation thrives, Victor has enabled HCMH not just to overcome obstacles but to flourish—delivering care that touches lives and builds a stronger, healthier community.
The Spark of Healthcare
Victor Bycroft’s journey into healthcare began when he enlisted in the US Army as a Combat Field Medic. Unlike many who choose nursing because of family influence or personal experiences, he entered the field seeking direction in life. His first active duty station became a turning point when a Chief Medical Officer and Physician’s Assistant encouraged him and others to pursue additional training as National Registry EMTs. That opportunity sparked his interest in healthcare and laid the foundation for his future.
After leaving the Army, he initially planned to become a Physician’s Assistant and started college toward that goal, but Desert Storm brought him back to active duty. Afterward, circumstances shifted, leading him to nursing school instead. With his medic and EMT background, he realized how much he valued helping people in their most difficult moments, which guided him into emergency care and the Emergency Department right after graduation.
In the Emergency Department, Victor saw strong and weak examples of leadership. His Army background had already taught him how leaders can shape teams, and his nursing experience reinforced the importance of doing it well. As his confidence grew, he became determined to take on leadership roles himself—committed to creating an environment where staff feel supported, patients receive excellent care, and organizations thrive through people-first leadership.
Lessons from Basic Training
One of the earliest defining moments in Victor’s career came during basic training, when he was unexpectedly pulled out of formation and handed the responsibility to lead his squad, with the drill sergeants warning, “Do not make me take these back.” From that moment, he embraced every leadership opportunity, learning from successes and challenges, shaping the foundation of his people-first approach.
Later, Victor Bycroft faced the tough reality that, despite his team’s dedication, the culture of the hospital and community sometimes hindered his leadership style. When the board fired the CEO—a decision he disagreed with—staff urged him to stay, recognizing his commitment to their well-being. Years later, visiting the hospital, he witnessed staff from across departments coming to see him, many asking when he would return, a testament to the lasting impact of his compassionate, resilient leadership.
Empowering Teams Amid Resistance
Victor Bycroft believes leadership works only when people are willing to be led and united by a shared goal—a lesson he learned the hard way. In a previous role, he successfully transformed an organization’s culture over three years, but after a leadership change, he moved to a small hospital in a frontier region where staff resisted change and the senior team was unsupportive.
Key takeaways from this experience:
- Relational leadership—meeting people where they work and listening to their needs—is crucial
- Even good ideas and intentions can be blocked by entrenched habits
- Leaders must sometimes make tough decisions to remove barriers and protect the greater good of the team and community
Expanding Services Beyond Expectations
HCMH stands out in the region primarily because of its strong, people-centered organizational culture. In 2014, the hospital faced significant challenges, including a poor reputation, frequent leadership changes, and staff who wanted to improve care but lacked direction. The arrival of new leadership in 2015 provided stability and allowed the hospital to set its first long-term strategic plan in years.
A major turning point came in 2016, when the hospital embarked on a 90-day cultural transformation. This initiative focused on building a lasting foundation of shared values, daily team huddles, and a Promise that guided every staff member.
Over time, this commitment to culture strengthened the hospital, allowing it to grow from under 200 employees to nearly 300, expand services previously thought impossible, and continue attracting talented staff even during challenging times in healthcare. Today, HCMH’s culture of accountability, collaboration, and people-first values is a key reason behind its growth, success, and reputation as a trusted healthcare leader in the region.
Stories of Exceptional Care
Victor Bycroft often shares stories that reflect HCMH’s culture of care, where staff go above and beyond to make every patient and family feel valued. One example is the hospital’s “No Point Policy,” where staff personally walk patients and visitors to their destinations instead of just giving directions, creating a warmer and more supportive experience.
Another powerful illustration comes from a hospice patient’s bucket-list fulfillment. With the team’s encouragement and support, she was able to receive a tattoo of a cancer ribbon while lying in her hospital bed. Later, the staff arranged a drag show in the hospital conference room, allowing her to enjoy the experience surrounded by family, friends, and caregivers.
These stories highlight the hospital’s Promise—doing the right thing for patients and families—and showcase the everyday thoughtful care staff provide. Whether meeting small requests or extraordinary needs, the team consistently acts with compassion, creativity, and courage, making every patient’s experience meaningful.
Hands-On Solutions to Stay Ahead in Healthcare
A growing concern in healthcare is that many leaders move into executive roles without hands-on patient care experience, relying mostly on theory—a gap that can impact the quality of care. Victor addresses this challenge by staying up to date on healthcare trends, actively networking with peers, and collaborating with innovators to find practical solutions.
For instance, he has partnered with a start-up to develop an AI-assisted scheduling tool that reduces staff stress and eases workload caused by open shifts. In addition, he supports technologies like Ceribell, which enables rapid EEGs in the ER and on ambulances, helping providers make faster and more accurate treatment decisions. Bycroft firmly believes that healthcare leaders should embrace new technologies and take thoughtful risks rather than waiting for larger hospitals to adopt them, ensuring improved patient care and more efficient support for staff.
Sharing Expertise on Global Healthcare Stage
Over the past year, Victor Bycroft has:
- Spoken at Becker’s Annual Meeting and Health 2.0 conference in Las Vegas
- Advised two tech companies:
- LastMinute (simplifying nurse staffing and filling shifts)
- Intelizen (AI-driven contract development)
- Mentored professionals, many of whom continue to work with him or have advanced in their careers
Consistent Recognition
These awards and recognitions highlight the hospital’s commitment to excellence and Victor’s outstanding leadership in delivering quality care:
- Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
- Top Workplace in Iowa for five consecutive years
- Victor Bycroft:
- Outstanding Nurse Executive (2019)
- Outstanding Leadership Award, Health 2.0 (2023)
- Upcoming Visionary Nurse Executive Award, FLUXX Conferences (Dec 2025)
- Visionaries Award, Health 2.0 (Apr 2026)
Enhancing Emergency Response Through Strategic Partnerships
One of the collaborations that stands out at HCMH is the work with its ambulance service. In rural Iowa, there is a serious shortage of EMS providers, to the point where calling 911 does not always guarantee an ambulance will arrive. Many small hospitals also struggle to transfer patients to higher levels of care, since EMS crews are limited and often reserved for emergencies.
Years ago, the goal at HCMH was to ensure 911 coverage and patient transfers from its own hospital and to build a service strong enough to support other regional hospitals in times of need. With the leadership of the current EMS director, the service grew to the point where it could occasionally assist neighboring hospitals.
In 2024, a larger hospital nearby reached out for help. Their local EMS service was unable to keep up with transfer requests, leaving emergency and ICU staff spending hours on the phone trying to arrange patient transfers. After months of planning and coordination, HCMH officially began providing full-time transfer coverage for this hospital in February 2025. Since then, the service has never failed to meet transfer requests and has even provided multiple crews when needed, sometimes handling two or even three transfers back-to-back. This collaboration has improved patient care in the region and strengthened the role of HCMH as a reliable partner in rural healthcare.
Media Features
Victor Bycroft and HCMH have been recognized in multiple media features that showcase their leadership, culture, and innovative healthcare initiatives:
- Marquis Millennium Profile: Victor is featured in the 17th Edition of Marquis Millennium, highlighting his achievements and leadership as Chief Nurse Executive at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital.
- Video Feature: He is also featured in a video interview discussing his leadership journey, the hospital’s culture of care, and innovative healthcare practices.
Prioritizing Patient Well-Being Over Convenience
Victor Bycroft has never believed in the phrase “the customer is always right,” but he strongly believes in always doing the right thing for patients. This principle is something he consistently encourages the entire leadership team to follow—to always be advocates for those they care for. Sometimes that means stepping outside the norm to ensure patients receive what they truly need. It doesn’t always align with what patients want, but it is always in their best interest. For him, convenience has never been the priority; patient well-being is.
If he sees something as appropriate and beneficial, he goes out of his way to make it happen—whether that’s bringing in a beloved pet for a patient who may not return home, setting up a small celebration, or simply taking someone outside to enjoy the weather. These little gestures, though simple, can leave a lasting impact.
He also emphasizes the importance of acting ethically and staying compliant with regulations while recognizing that care doesn’t always fit into rigid rules. For him, there’s often a grey area, and instead of seeing things in strict “black and white,” he believes in finding thoughtful, creative ways to meet patient needs while still honoring the standards of care.
Compassion Across the Organization
Patient satisfaction plays a vital role in healthcare, and it begins with truly listening to people. Having worked in the ER for many years, Victor Bycroft understood how difficult it was to achieve strong satisfaction scores in such a high-stress environment. Over time, he realized that most patients simply want to feel heard. They may not always need exactly what they ask for, but they deeply value time, attention, and a sincere attitude.
To strengthen this approach, the hospital created the role of Patient Experience Coordinator, ensuring there was always someone to directly address patient and visitor concerns. Still, the responsibility of providing compassionate care rests with the entire organization, and every staff member plays a part in ensuring positive experiences. In 2016, during a full cultural transformation, the hospital established its Promise — a statement every employee memorizes and lives by.
It emphasizes treating every patient, visitor, family member, and co-worker as a priority, providing exceptional care, respecting choices, reducing fears, addressing concerns, and serving as a true partner in each person’s health journey. By living this Promise every day, the hospital team continues to create an environment where people feel valued, supported, and cared for, while remaining open to listening and adapting when needed.
Build Real Connections with Staff
Victor believes the most important quality for healthcare leaders is having hands-on patient care experience. Understanding what caregivers go through helps leaders address concerns and guide their teams effectively. While financial stability is important, he emphasizes that decisions should not be based on numbers alone—patients and staff must always come first. He recalls a lesson from his time with a Catholic organization: “No margin, no mission.”
Victor Bycroft also stresses the importance of leaving the office to connect with staff, building relationships where employees feel comfortable and happy to see their leaders while still keeping professional boundaries. As one employee once said, “I’ve worked in four hospitals, and this is the first one where I ever saw the Chief Nurse. Most times I didn’t even know their name, let alone their face.” For Victor, this shows how crucial visibility and presence are—if staff aren’t glad to see their leaders, there is still work to be done.
Victor Bycroft’s 5 Impactful Business Mantras
- People First: Empower teams, value staff, and prioritize the well-being of those you serve.
- Lead by Example: Stay hands-on, visible, and engaged to inspire trust and accountability.
- Embrace Innovation: Adopt new technologies and creative solutions to improve outcomes.
- Build Resilient Culture: Transform organizational culture through shared values, collaboration, and consistent communication.
- Act with Integrity: Make decisions ethically, balancing rules with compassion for people’s real needs.
