On July 27, two health systems reported they were nixing the chief operating officer role, adding to a growing list of C-suites reevaluating the position.
Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare eliminated the position of executive vice president and COO Rick Schaffner, RN, who had served in the role since 2015. David Tam, MD, the health system's president and CEO, said the health system aims to grow "more agile and streamlined" and Mr. Schaffner's duties will be reassigned to others.
The same day, Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health split its COO duties across two new roles as Michelle Janney, PhD, RN, retires from the job. Two senior vice presidents — one of system healthcare operations, one of system regional operations — will share her former responsibilities.
Streamlining operations is becoming more popular among health systems — at least 17 have revamped their executive teams in 2023 — and chief operating officers are regularly targeted for cuts. Wenatchee, Wash.-based Confluence Health; Danville, Va.-based Sovah Health; and Maumee, Ohio-based McLaren St. Luke's Hospital have eliminated their COOs over the past four months.