The New York private equity firm that struck a deal to buy Caritas Christi Health Care could build the chain of six Catholic community hospitals into a competitive lower-cost provider of medical services in Massachusetts, analysts told the Boston Globe. Cerberus Capital Management plans to invest $830 million to acquire Caritas Christi and turn the charity into a for-profit venture. The hospitals could emerge as an attractive lower-cost alternative to Boston's big teaching hospitals as healthcare reform moves forward soon in Massachusetts and later across the country, the Globe reports.
St. Louis-based SSM St. Mary's Health Center plans to overhaul its main entranceway as part of $7 million in upgrades planned in 2010. The outside facelift will complement recent interior renovations, including an expanded emergency room with a dedicated chest pain center; the addition of private patient rooms; and new cardiac catheterization, endoscopy and imaging equipment, said St. Mary's President William Jennings in a statement. The hospital also plans to add a larger emergency room reception area and expanded private patient rooms this year.
Pete Leer, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center's senior VP/COO, has resigned. Leer has been offered an opportunity with Cox Health as their vice-president of clinical services, with responsibilities for all surgical services, and will leave NARMC mid-April. Leer's last scheduled work day will mark the end of his third year at the hospital.
Joint Commission Resources has announced the appointments of healthcare executives John Babiarz and J. Thornton Kirby as members of its Board of Directors. JCR is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Babiarz is group president of ARAMARK Healthcare Management Services. Kirby is president/CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association.
John C. Johnson has been named to a new regional position where he will assume responsibilities for more Catholic Health East hospitals. Effective May 1, Johnson will be executive vice president, Ministry Operations for CHE. He will be responsible for mergers and acquisitions for the CHE system. Johnson has served as president and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital since 1998 and of Mercy Hospital since 2008. Holy Cross Hospital Executive Vice President/COO Patrick Taylor, MD, has been promoted to president/CEO of Holy Cross Hospital. Mercy Hospital COO Manuel P. Anton III, MD, has been promoted to president/CEO of Mercy. Both promotions are effective May 1.
Mac Holley, Dennis Blackburn, Joseph Thompson, and Neal Von Stein are newly elected officers of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Health Foundation. Chairman Holley is president/CEO at Florida Capital Bank of Northeast Florida. Vice Chairman Blackburn is the managing member of Blackburn & Company. Joe Thompson is the managing principal at Gresham, Smith and Partners. Von Stein has been a member of the Board since 2005. He is managing partner at LBA Certified Accountants. The Baptist Health Foundation announced four new trustees to the Board: Stacy Berg, Gerald Kunkle, Robin Sorensen, and Mary Pietan.