Growth is a major priority for health system CEOs. The idea of "strength in numbers" is reflected in a lengthening list of transactions and acquisitions — often including the incorporation of a smaller health system into a larger, more stable one. Oftentimes, a growing system needs to realign its leadership to create an aligned, integrated entity.
Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital is a recent example. On Oct. 12, the system announced a major overhaul of its executive suite to expand oversight of TGH North, a region including three Bravera Health hospitals the system recently purchased from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
The health system tapped a market president to oversee the widening region and appointed eight new leaders — including a chief transformation officer and chief digital and innovation officer. It broadened nine other roles, its CFO and chief people and talent officer among them, to expand their oversight to TGH North facilities. Finally, the former CEOs of the Bravera Health facilities were named senior vice presidents of the health system and presidents of their respective hospitals.
St. Louis-based Mercy also crafted a new region following an acquisition. In August, the system signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based SoutheastHealth, which has two hospitals in the Southeastern region of the state. Mercy also began operating Mercy Hospital Perry in Perryville, Mo. — formerly Perry County Health System — under a lease agreement beginning in October.
The system reshuffled its regional leadership with the creation of the Southeastern region, placing Eric Ammons at the inaugural helm. Mr. Ammons previously served as president of Mercy's Jefferson communities; Dan Eckenfels, the region's vice president of finance and chief administrative officer, will succeed him.
Sometimes, job cuts are part of the process. After the University of Michigan Health acquired Sparrow Health — a six-hospital system based in Lansing, Mich. — it laid off four Sparrow executives.
Like Mercy and Tampa General, UM Health redrew regional lines following the acquisition. Margaret Dimond, PhD, former president of E.W. Sparrow Hospital, was promoted to a regional presidency and charged with overseeing Sparrow operations and UM Health-West in Wyoming, Mich. Seven other leaders were appointed, including presidents for each UM Health-West and UM Health-Sparrow Lansing, and a regional chief operating officer and human resources officer.
Read more about health systems zeroing in on leadership teams here.