Capella Health

Industry Veteran Will Oversee IT Initiatives

Franklin, TN – Capella Healthcare, Inc. announced today the appointment of Alan Smith as Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), according to Michael Wiechart, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. Smith has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare information technology industry, having worked in hospitals, hospital management companies, health insurance plans and technology consulting firms. He is expected to begin the new position by mid-May.

Since 2007, Smith has served as Vice-President of Applications for Vanguard Health System in Nashville where he has been responsible for IT applications for the company’s hospitals and affiliated physician clinics across all geographic markets. He is also currently serving as Interim CIO. Prior to joining Vanguard, he was a Client Results Executive for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, MO, and also served as Vice President of Clinical Applications for Carolinas Healthcare System (CHS) in Charlotte, NC. He began his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and First Consulting Group in Detroit, MI, providing technology consulting to a variety of clients.

Smith completed his undergraduate degree in financial administration with highest honors at Michigan State University. He also earned a Masters of Public Health from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Al not only brings a track record of success in healthcare IT but the vision needed for a future that will be increasingly dependent on information technologies,” said Wiechart. “The CIO will lead us in implementing information systems to achieve more effective and cost-beneficial enterprise-wide IT operations, all of which will assist us in achieving our mission of providing the highest quality of patient care. Al is the ideal individual to fill this new position for Capella, and we look forward to having him join our team.”

About Capella Healthcare

Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Capella owns and/or operates 13 general acute-care hospitals in seven states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, reinvesting 100% of net cash flow back into its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities.