Keeping Quality Healthcare Accessible in Polk County

I'm Emily Westergaard

I’m grateful to share that I’m running for a full term on the Broadlawns Medical Center Board of Trustees this November.

Since being appointed to the Board in 2025, I’ve had the opportunity to see up close the important role Broadlawns plays in our community—not only as a hospital, but as a public institution committed to making high-quality health care accessible to everyone who needs it.

Serving as a Trustee has deepened my belief that the health of our community depends on more than treating people when they are sick. It means investing in excellent care, supporting the people who provide that care, removing barriers to access, responding to emerging needs, and making thoughtful, responsible decisions about the resources entrusted to us.

I’m especially proud to have been part of Board discussions around strengthening hospital leadership, expanding access through mobile care, investing in brain health and memory care, and maintaining the infrastructure needed to provide excellent care for generations to come.

I also believe strongly in the connection between health and the other factors that shape people’s lives—including education, housing, economic opportunity, and a sense of belonging. My work in the nonprofit sector has given me a firsthand understanding of those connections, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring that perspective to the Board.

Broadlawns belongs to all of Polk County. I’m honored to serve an institution with such an important public mission, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to its future.

Write to Emily

Emily Westergaard for County Hospital Trustee

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

Priorities at Broadlawns

Together, these priorities reflect what I believe makes Broadlawns so important: a health system that delivers excellent care, understands the broader factors that affect people's health, and remains a place where everyone in our community can turn for care.

Expand Access to High-Quality Healthcare

Every person in Polk County should be able to access excellent healthcare when and where they need it. I want Broadlawns to continue finding innovative ways to reduce barriers to care—from bringing services into neighborhoods through mobile care to expanding specialty services and investing in the facilities and workforce needed to provide high-quality care for the long term.

Address the Factors That Shape Health

Health doesn’t begin at the hospital door. Where we live, whether we have stable housing, access to transportation, educational opportunities, healthy food, and economic stability all influence our health and our ability to get care. I believe Broadlawns has an important role to play in partnering across our community to address these social determinants of health and improve health outcomes—not just treat illness after it occurs.

Ensuring Care is Available Regardless of Ability to Pay

As our county’s public hospital, Broadlawns has a unique responsibility to care for people regardless of their financial circumstances. No one should have to choose between getting the care they need and paying their rent, buying groceries, or supporting their family. I want to help ensure Broadlawns remains financially strong and sustainable while preserving its commitment to serving every member of our community.