Here are 10 hospital and health system leaders to know.
1. Dennis Keefe, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance. Under Dennis Keefe's leadership, the Cambridge (Mass.) Health Alliance has grown to a $1 billion integrated healthcare delivery system. In his eight years as CEO, Mr. Keefe has led the system in adding a new emergency department at its Whidden Hospital campus in Everett, Mass., adding a new breast center at Cambridge Hospital and continually placing the health system on the forefront of medical information technology.
Mr. Keefe also led CHA through a significant service reconfiguration plan that stabilized the foundation of the system and helped ensure that the system will provide excellent care going forward. Prior to joining CHA, Mr. Keefe worked in several academic teaching facilities and community hospitals and held COO and CFO positions. Before being named CHA's top executive, he served the health system as associate administrator of professional services and COO, managing the day-to-day operations of a then-multi-million dollar system.
Mr. Keefe also serves as chair of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, where he is instrumental in solidifying the MHA as a leading voice for state hospitals and health systems. On his appointment to the MHA, he said the association must embrace the principles of reform that rationalize hospital payment systems and provide transparency to the public without negative impacting providers. "We must have a clear and consistent message that transparently speaks to what the true drivers of medical inflation really are," he says. "Insurers have so far been able to successfully confuse this message, and we need to meet this challenge head on."
Read more about Dennis Keefe.
2. Andrea Price, CEO of Mercy Health Partners. Like most other executives in the healthcare industry, Andrea Price is focused on the effects of health reform on her hospital. As the new CEO of Mercy Health Partners, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio — a system she joined less than a year ago as chief operating officer — Ms. Price will steer Mercy's seven hospitals through the changes that will affect physician-owned hospitals, reimbursements and many other areas of the healthcare industry.
Ms. Price told Toledo Blade she plans to continue Mercy's emphasis on quality of care and patient satisfaction, as well as continue to build good relationships between the administration and the system's 2,300 medical staffers. The northwest Ohio healthcare delivery system currently employs 7,300 workers and reports net revenues of nearly $900 million.
Ms. Price has always placed patient satisfaction at the top of her priority list. Last year she commented on Mercy's efforts to improve comfort and efficiency for patients, saying, "We understand people don't like coming to hospitals, so we're trying to improve their experience."
Read more about Andrea Price.
3. Richard Goldberg, MD, President of Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Richard Goldberg has been training for years to head Georgetown University Hospital. He has spent his entire medical career working for the facility, from his years as a medical student to his residency to his tenure as chief medical officer.
During his 40 years with the facility, Dr. Goldberg has served as a member of the faculty in Georgetown's department of psychiatry — a position he still holds — as well as chairman of psychiatry and the faculty practice group, dean of graduate medical education, medical director and dean of clinical affairs. When the hospital became part of MedStar Health in July 2000, he went along for the ride, serving as vice president of medical affairs and later CMO.
In a letter from the hospital, Dr. Goldberg emphasized the important of quality care to his institution. "Georgetown employees — whether we are direct caregivers or staff who support our patient care mission — recognize not only the importance of expert care, but also of compassionate care," he said.
Read more about Dr. Richard Goldberg.
4. Steven Altschuler, MD, CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Steven M. Altschuler has served as president and CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since 2000. Prior to his appointment to his current position, Dr. Altschuler worked in the Department of Pediatrics as physician-in-chief and chairman. Trained as a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Altschuler has led the 373-bed institution with a strong focus on quality of care.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is the oldest children's hospital in the United States, admitting more than 17,000 patients and providing care in more than 50,000 emergency and 60,000 outpatient visits annually. Since becoming president and CEO, Dr. Altschuler has focused on expanding the hospital's research program, developing the pediatric care network and providing expert medical care for children in local communities.
Dr. Altschuler has been a member of CHOP's medical staff since 1985. He is an accomplished scientific researcher as well as a proven executive leader, and since joining CHOP's management team, he has made significant contributions to the institution's growth and development.
He drives CHOP with the intention of building a mission-driven organization, a hospital that unites every employee, regardless of role, around a consistent set of goals and objectives. It isn't an easy job: CHOP has over 7,000 employees, which means that Dr. Altschuler must constantly communicate with different teams to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Read more about Steven Altschuler.
5. Glenn Steele, MD, CEO of Geisinger Health System. Under the leadership of president and CEO Dr. Glenn Steele, Geisinger Health System has become a testing ground for experiments aimed at fixing American healthcare. One of the most revolutionary ideas is ProvenCare, a program that offers a 90-day warranty on bypass surgery.
In an interview with Fast Company magazine, Dr. Steele explained why his hospitals will pay for readmission caused by preventable complications up to 90 days after heart surgery. "We shouldn't get paid if we don't do the right thing," he said. This method replaces the traditional fee-for-service method, in which hospitals benefit more financially if a patient receives six unsuccessful operations rather than one effective one.
Since 2001, Dr. Steele has taken GHS from a shaky system recovering from a bad merger to a state-of-the-art organization on the forefront of healthcare innovation and computerized patient records. He serves on the Geisinger Health System Foundation Board of Directors and is ex-officio of all standing committees of the Board.
In 2010, the Health Research & Educational Trust, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association, selected Dr. Steele as the recipient of the TRUST award, which honors individuals for leadership in the healthcare field. About Dr. Steele, HRET president Al Stubblefield said, "The Selection Committee praised Dr. Steele's strong use of research to inform evidence-based practice. The Committee recognized Dr. Steele's leadership as an early adopter of both HIT and patient-centered care, as well as his vision to redesign and implement new payment models."
Read more about Dr. Glenn Steele.
6. Richard Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. As the government makes its final decisions on health reform regulations, Richard Umbdenstock and the American Hospital Association are watching closely. In April, the Obama administration released a preliminary proposal that would cut payments by 0.1 percent on average per patient, on top of the 0.25 percent cut hospitals will experience under healthcare reform.
At the time, Mr. Umbdenstock commented on the potential negative effects of the proposed payment cuts, saying, "Should this rule take effect, billions of dollars would be taken out of the system just as hospitals are grappling with sweeping changes and payment reductions contained in the new health reform legislation."
In a 2009 interview with Kaiser Health News, Mr. Umbdenstock discussed the financial obstacles hospitals are facing in the economic downturn. He said while a hospital may look financially strong from the outside, construction projects and renovations often mask deep-seated financial issues. "It's hard to drive by a hospital from the outside and see that it's struggling," he said. "But the economic downturn has hit hospitals especially hard. It's not just that the cost of capital and the cost of goods and services is higher and there's lower [patient] volumes. We are also seeing a significant increase in charity care and bad debt."
Read more about Richard Umbdenstock.
7. Ronald Paulus, MD, of Mission Health System. Dr. Ronald Paulus was recently named CEO of Mission Health System and Mission Hospital, both in Asheville, N.C., after an impressive five years with Geisinger Health System in Danville, Penn. As executive vice president of clinical operations at Geisinger, he was responsible for the operation of the system's $1.5 billion clinical enterprise, including two hospitals, a nearly 800-member multispecialty group practice and more than 40 ambulatory care facilities.
Dr. Paulus makes history with his appointment: He will be the first physician to assume a CEO position at Mission Health System and the first in North Carolina to lead a community-owned, not-for-profit health system.
In an interview with the Citizen-Times, Dr. Paulus expressed his excitement about his appointment at Mission Health System, saying that he expects it to be one of America's leading health systems during his tenure. "One of the things that attracted me to Mission Health System is the long history of collegiality and cooperation among the hospitals and physicians in western North Carolina to provide the best care close to home," he said. "This is one reason why the region continues to be ranked as among the nation's best for providing high quality, low cost care."
Read more about Dr. Ronald Paulus.
8. John Camus, CEO of Newport Hospital. John Camus was recently named director of physician practices at Newport Hospital in Newport, R.I., where he will contribute more than 20 years of executive leadership experience to the 102-bed hospital.
On his appointment, Newport president and CEO August Cordeiro said, "John has extensive knowledge and experience with managing operational workflows in the healthcare setting. His ability to partner with physicians while improving patient access and satisfaction will position Newport Hospital for continued growth in the coming years."
Before coming to Newport Hospital, Mr. Camus served as CEO of Olean (N.Y.) Medical Group, where he led a 28-physician, multi-practice specialty group that provided care to more than 90,000 patients in the area. He has also held leadership positions at Hampden County Physician Associates, Sisters of Providence Health System-Mercy Medical Center and Physician Practice Partners, all in Springfield, Mass.
In a February interview with the Olean Times Herald, Mr. Camus commented on the new health reform law, saying, "I'm in favor of any movement that promotes the need for health insurance to be accessed by all. People should always have coverage and care at a reasonable cost."
Read more about John Camus.
9. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, MD, CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital. Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, is one of only four female physicians to serve as a hospital CEO in Illinois. She served on Saint Joseph's medical staff for 24 years prior to being named CEO, helping to found one of Chicago's first inpatient HIV units and serving as chief of infectious diseases and chairperson of the department of medicine.
An expert on H1N1, AIDS and HIV, Dr. Luskin-Hawk stands at the forefront of the fight against infectious disease. In 1989, she established AIDS Research Alliance Chicago, an independent, non-profit clinical research consortium, for which she served as principal investigator for 15 years. She also founded Lakeshore Infectious Disease Associates and worked to fund an HIV clinical research program that provided HIV drugs to underrepresented populations, such as women and African Americans.
Dr. Luskin-Hawk is an enthusiastic advocate for her hospital and its employees. In 2009, she responded to recognition for Saint Joseph's pulmonary services by saying, "We share a deep commitment to achieving clinical excellence. These new awards are a testament to our focus of hands-on, comprehensive patient care."
Read more about Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk.
10. Joseph Swedish, CEO of Trinity Health. Joseph Swedish became president and CEO of Trinity Health, the nation's third largest Catholic health care system, in 2005. As president and CEO, he currently oversees 44,000 full-time employees, operations in seven states, 45 hospitals and 384 outpatient facilities. He has focused his energy on transforming Trinity's clinical and business processes and expanding access to the growing number of underinsured patients. He has also helped improve Trinity's performance by focusing on providing community service, excellent patient care and a supportive and spiritual environment.
Mr. Swedish has urged other healthcare leaders to embrace diversity as a way to end disparities and inequitable care delivery. He has said that patients should receive the same access to high-quality services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. In a speech to ethicists and healthcare leaders at the Catholic Health Association's Ethics Conference in 2008, he said, "A strong and unified commitment from all sectors of healthcare is essential to extend culturally competent care that improves patient safety and outcomes."
Until 2005, Mr. Swedish served as president and CEO of Centura Health, the largest healthcare provider in Colorado. Under his leadership, Centura was honored by placing five of its Denver hospitals in Solucent's "Top 100" in 2003 and winning the International Spirit at Work award in 2004. Prior to his work at Centura Health, Mr. Swedish was president of the East Florida and Central Florida Divisions of the Hospital Corporation of America.
Read more about Joseph Swedish.
1. Dennis Keefe, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance. Under Dennis Keefe's leadership, the Cambridge (Mass.) Health Alliance has grown to a $1 billion integrated healthcare delivery system. In his eight years as CEO, Mr. Keefe has led the system in adding a new emergency department at its Whidden Hospital campus in Everett, Mass., adding a new breast center at Cambridge Hospital and continually placing the health system on the forefront of medical information technology.
Mr. Keefe also led CHA through a significant service reconfiguration plan that stabilized the foundation of the system and helped ensure that the system will provide excellent care going forward. Prior to joining CHA, Mr. Keefe worked in several academic teaching facilities and community hospitals and held COO and CFO positions. Before being named CHA's top executive, he served the health system as associate administrator of professional services and COO, managing the day-to-day operations of a then-multi-million dollar system.
Mr. Keefe also serves as chair of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, where he is instrumental in solidifying the MHA as a leading voice for state hospitals and health systems. On his appointment to the MHA, he said the association must embrace the principles of reform that rationalize hospital payment systems and provide transparency to the public without negative impacting providers. "We must have a clear and consistent message that transparently speaks to what the true drivers of medical inflation really are," he says. "Insurers have so far been able to successfully confuse this message, and we need to meet this challenge head on."
Read more about Dennis Keefe.
2. Andrea Price, CEO of Mercy Health Partners. Like most other executives in the healthcare industry, Andrea Price is focused on the effects of health reform on her hospital. As the new CEO of Mercy Health Partners, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio — a system she joined less than a year ago as chief operating officer — Ms. Price will steer Mercy's seven hospitals through the changes that will affect physician-owned hospitals, reimbursements and many other areas of the healthcare industry.
Ms. Price told Toledo Blade she plans to continue Mercy's emphasis on quality of care and patient satisfaction, as well as continue to build good relationships between the administration and the system's 2,300 medical staffers. The northwest Ohio healthcare delivery system currently employs 7,300 workers and reports net revenues of nearly $900 million.
Ms. Price has always placed patient satisfaction at the top of her priority list. Last year she commented on Mercy's efforts to improve comfort and efficiency for patients, saying, "We understand people don't like coming to hospitals, so we're trying to improve their experience."
Read more about Andrea Price.
3. Richard Goldberg, MD, President of Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Richard Goldberg has been training for years to head Georgetown University Hospital. He has spent his entire medical career working for the facility, from his years as a medical student to his residency to his tenure as chief medical officer.
During his 40 years with the facility, Dr. Goldberg has served as a member of the faculty in Georgetown's department of psychiatry — a position he still holds — as well as chairman of psychiatry and the faculty practice group, dean of graduate medical education, medical director and dean of clinical affairs. When the hospital became part of MedStar Health in July 2000, he went along for the ride, serving as vice president of medical affairs and later CMO.
In a letter from the hospital, Dr. Goldberg emphasized the important of quality care to his institution. "Georgetown employees — whether we are direct caregivers or staff who support our patient care mission — recognize not only the importance of expert care, but also of compassionate care," he said.
Read more about Dr. Richard Goldberg.
4. Steven Altschuler, MD, CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Steven M. Altschuler has served as president and CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since 2000. Prior to his appointment to his current position, Dr. Altschuler worked in the Department of Pediatrics as physician-in-chief and chairman. Trained as a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Altschuler has led the 373-bed institution with a strong focus on quality of care.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is the oldest children's hospital in the United States, admitting more than 17,000 patients and providing care in more than 50,000 emergency and 60,000 outpatient visits annually. Since becoming president and CEO, Dr. Altschuler has focused on expanding the hospital's research program, developing the pediatric care network and providing expert medical care for children in local communities.
Dr. Altschuler has been a member of CHOP's medical staff since 1985. He is an accomplished scientific researcher as well as a proven executive leader, and since joining CHOP's management team, he has made significant contributions to the institution's growth and development.
He drives CHOP with the intention of building a mission-driven organization, a hospital that unites every employee, regardless of role, around a consistent set of goals and objectives. It isn't an easy job: CHOP has over 7,000 employees, which means that Dr. Altschuler must constantly communicate with different teams to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Read more about Steven Altschuler.
5. Glenn Steele, MD, CEO of Geisinger Health System. Under the leadership of president and CEO Dr. Glenn Steele, Geisinger Health System has become a testing ground for experiments aimed at fixing American healthcare. One of the most revolutionary ideas is ProvenCare, a program that offers a 90-day warranty on bypass surgery.
In an interview with Fast Company magazine, Dr. Steele explained why his hospitals will pay for readmission caused by preventable complications up to 90 days after heart surgery. "We shouldn't get paid if we don't do the right thing," he said. This method replaces the traditional fee-for-service method, in which hospitals benefit more financially if a patient receives six unsuccessful operations rather than one effective one.
Since 2001, Dr. Steele has taken GHS from a shaky system recovering from a bad merger to a state-of-the-art organization on the forefront of healthcare innovation and computerized patient records. He serves on the Geisinger Health System Foundation Board of Directors and is ex-officio of all standing committees of the Board.
In 2010, the Health Research & Educational Trust, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association, selected Dr. Steele as the recipient of the TRUST award, which honors individuals for leadership in the healthcare field. About Dr. Steele, HRET president Al Stubblefield said, "The Selection Committee praised Dr. Steele's strong use of research to inform evidence-based practice. The Committee recognized Dr. Steele's leadership as an early adopter of both HIT and patient-centered care, as well as his vision to redesign and implement new payment models."
Read more about Dr. Glenn Steele.
6. Richard Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. As the government makes its final decisions on health reform regulations, Richard Umbdenstock and the American Hospital Association are watching closely. In April, the Obama administration released a preliminary proposal that would cut payments by 0.1 percent on average per patient, on top of the 0.25 percent cut hospitals will experience under healthcare reform.
At the time, Mr. Umbdenstock commented on the potential negative effects of the proposed payment cuts, saying, "Should this rule take effect, billions of dollars would be taken out of the system just as hospitals are grappling with sweeping changes and payment reductions contained in the new health reform legislation."
In a 2009 interview with Kaiser Health News, Mr. Umbdenstock discussed the financial obstacles hospitals are facing in the economic downturn. He said while a hospital may look financially strong from the outside, construction projects and renovations often mask deep-seated financial issues. "It's hard to drive by a hospital from the outside and see that it's struggling," he said. "But the economic downturn has hit hospitals especially hard. It's not just that the cost of capital and the cost of goods and services is higher and there's lower [patient] volumes. We are also seeing a significant increase in charity care and bad debt."
Read more about Richard Umbdenstock.
7. Ronald Paulus, MD, of Mission Health System. Dr. Ronald Paulus was recently named CEO of Mission Health System and Mission Hospital, both in Asheville, N.C., after an impressive five years with Geisinger Health System in Danville, Penn. As executive vice president of clinical operations at Geisinger, he was responsible for the operation of the system's $1.5 billion clinical enterprise, including two hospitals, a nearly 800-member multispecialty group practice and more than 40 ambulatory care facilities.
Dr. Paulus makes history with his appointment: He will be the first physician to assume a CEO position at Mission Health System and the first in North Carolina to lead a community-owned, not-for-profit health system.
In an interview with the Citizen-Times, Dr. Paulus expressed his excitement about his appointment at Mission Health System, saying that he expects it to be one of America's leading health systems during his tenure. "One of the things that attracted me to Mission Health System is the long history of collegiality and cooperation among the hospitals and physicians in western North Carolina to provide the best care close to home," he said. "This is one reason why the region continues to be ranked as among the nation's best for providing high quality, low cost care."
Read more about Dr. Ronald Paulus.
8. John Camus, CEO of Newport Hospital. John Camus was recently named director of physician practices at Newport Hospital in Newport, R.I., where he will contribute more than 20 years of executive leadership experience to the 102-bed hospital.
On his appointment, Newport president and CEO August Cordeiro said, "John has extensive knowledge and experience with managing operational workflows in the healthcare setting. His ability to partner with physicians while improving patient access and satisfaction will position Newport Hospital for continued growth in the coming years."
Before coming to Newport Hospital, Mr. Camus served as CEO of Olean (N.Y.) Medical Group, where he led a 28-physician, multi-practice specialty group that provided care to more than 90,000 patients in the area. He has also held leadership positions at Hampden County Physician Associates, Sisters of Providence Health System-Mercy Medical Center and Physician Practice Partners, all in Springfield, Mass.
In a February interview with the Olean Times Herald, Mr. Camus commented on the new health reform law, saying, "I'm in favor of any movement that promotes the need for health insurance to be accessed by all. People should always have coverage and care at a reasonable cost."
Read more about John Camus.
9. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, MD, CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital. Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, is one of only four female physicians to serve as a hospital CEO in Illinois. She served on Saint Joseph's medical staff for 24 years prior to being named CEO, helping to found one of Chicago's first inpatient HIV units and serving as chief of infectious diseases and chairperson of the department of medicine.
An expert on H1N1, AIDS and HIV, Dr. Luskin-Hawk stands at the forefront of the fight against infectious disease. In 1989, she established AIDS Research Alliance Chicago, an independent, non-profit clinical research consortium, for which she served as principal investigator for 15 years. She also founded Lakeshore Infectious Disease Associates and worked to fund an HIV clinical research program that provided HIV drugs to underrepresented populations, such as women and African Americans.
Dr. Luskin-Hawk is an enthusiastic advocate for her hospital and its employees. In 2009, she responded to recognition for Saint Joseph's pulmonary services by saying, "We share a deep commitment to achieving clinical excellence. These new awards are a testament to our focus of hands-on, comprehensive patient care."
Read more about Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk.
10. Joseph Swedish, CEO of Trinity Health. Joseph Swedish became president and CEO of Trinity Health, the nation's third largest Catholic health care system, in 2005. As president and CEO, he currently oversees 44,000 full-time employees, operations in seven states, 45 hospitals and 384 outpatient facilities. He has focused his energy on transforming Trinity's clinical and business processes and expanding access to the growing number of underinsured patients. He has also helped improve Trinity's performance by focusing on providing community service, excellent patient care and a supportive and spiritual environment.
Mr. Swedish has urged other healthcare leaders to embrace diversity as a way to end disparities and inequitable care delivery. He has said that patients should receive the same access to high-quality services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. In a speech to ethicists and healthcare leaders at the Catholic Health Association's Ethics Conference in 2008, he said, "A strong and unified commitment from all sectors of healthcare is essential to extend culturally competent care that improves patient safety and outcomes."
Until 2005, Mr. Swedish served as president and CEO of Centura Health, the largest healthcare provider in Colorado. Under his leadership, Centura was honored by placing five of its Denver hospitals in Solucent's "Top 100" in 2003 and winning the International Spirit at Work award in 2004. Prior to his work at Centura Health, Mr. Swedish was president of the East Florida and Central Florida Divisions of the Hospital Corporation of America.
Read more about Joseph Swedish.