Coaching for the Community at Salud Integral en la Montaña

When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, most healthcare facilities were forced to close their doors — but not Salud Integral en la Montaña (SIM). This nonprofit network of community health centers remained operational throughout the crisis, providing critical care in the island’s mountainous regions. Behind their extraordinary response was a culture of coaching that had been carefully cultivated over the previous two years.

This case study explores how SIM’s commitment to coaching helped build a resilient, high-performing team — one that could sustain long workdays, communicate under pressure, and support each other while caring for thousands of patients in dire need. Coaching didn’t just strengthen internal capabilities; it transformed the organization from the inside out, boosting employee engagement, patient satisfaction, and even professional development outcomes.

Celebrated for the innovative use of coaching to support both staff and patients, SIM’s story offers a powerful example of how a coaching mindset can prepare an organization not only to thrive in day-to-day operations but to rise in moments of crisis. Whether you’re building a coaching culture or looking to empower teams under pressure, this case study is a testament to what’s possible when coaching becomes part of an organization’s DNA.

Dive into the full case study to learn how SIM empowered its workforce — and its community — through coaching.