James Bleicher, MD, has served as president and CEO of Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, Ariz., since 2010.
Dr. Bleicher joined VVMC in 2007 as the vice president of medical affairs. He became the COO and CMO of the hospital in 2009 before being named CEO in 2010.
Under Dr. Bleicher's leadership, VVMC has improved the quality and safety of its care. Since 2009, VVMC's Hospital Quality Alliance measures have increased from 65 percent to 92 percent. Also, the hospital was recognized by HealthGrades for patient safety excellence in 2012.
Dr. Bleicher also knows how to get his employees involved. Employee engagement at the hospital has increased from the 18th percentile in 2010 when he first took the reins to the 90th percentile in 2012, as measured by an annual advisory board survey.
In recognition of the hospital's overall success, Becker's Hospital Review named VVMC on its 2012 list of 100 Great Community Hospitals. "This is an incredible honor and true testament to the quality-driven, patient-focused healthcare we provide to our patients and community," Dr. Bleicher said in a statement. "It also proves the commitment of all the staff and physicians making VVMC one of the best hospitals in the U.S."
Dr. Bleicher has received national recognition for his leadership prowess. In 2012, he was the recipient of the American Hospital Association's Shirley Ann Munroe Leadership Award. The award is given to leaders from small hospitals who achieve improvements in local health delivery and community health status.
Dr. Bleicher earned his medical degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He also earned a master's degree in healthcare management from Harvard University in Boston.
If you have additional information or updates for this profile, or would like to recommend a leader to be profiled in the future, please contact Lindsey Dunn, editor in chief, Becker's Hospital Review at ldunn@beckershealthcare.com.
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Dr. Bleicher joined VVMC in 2007 as the vice president of medical affairs. He became the COO and CMO of the hospital in 2009 before being named CEO in 2010.
Under Dr. Bleicher's leadership, VVMC has improved the quality and safety of its care. Since 2009, VVMC's Hospital Quality Alliance measures have increased from 65 percent to 92 percent. Also, the hospital was recognized by HealthGrades for patient safety excellence in 2012.
Dr. Bleicher also knows how to get his employees involved. Employee engagement at the hospital has increased from the 18th percentile in 2010 when he first took the reins to the 90th percentile in 2012, as measured by an annual advisory board survey.
In recognition of the hospital's overall success, Becker's Hospital Review named VVMC on its 2012 list of 100 Great Community Hospitals. "This is an incredible honor and true testament to the quality-driven, patient-focused healthcare we provide to our patients and community," Dr. Bleicher said in a statement. "It also proves the commitment of all the staff and physicians making VVMC one of the best hospitals in the U.S."
Dr. Bleicher has received national recognition for his leadership prowess. In 2012, he was the recipient of the American Hospital Association's Shirley Ann Munroe Leadership Award. The award is given to leaders from small hospitals who achieve improvements in local health delivery and community health status.
Dr. Bleicher earned his medical degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He also earned a master's degree in healthcare management from Harvard University in Boston.
If you have additional information or updates for this profile, or would like to recommend a leader to be profiled in the future, please contact Lindsey Dunn, editor in chief, Becker's Hospital Review at ldunn@beckershealthcare.com.
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