Capella Health

Franklin, TN (February 1, 2013) – Capella Healthcare has announced the members of the 2013 National Physician Leadership Group, according to Dan Slipkovich, Chief Executive Officer of Capella Healthcare.

At Capella’s family of hospitals, physicians are integrally involved in providing leadership where they practice, Slipkovich said. In addition to leadership roles on the Medical Staff, hospital committees, and Boards of Trustees, physicians also have opportunities to serve on the local Physician Leadership Group (PLG).

“Each hospital’s local Physician Leadership Group includes 5-10 physicians representing a cross-section of its medical staff,” said Slipkovich. “They provide input to hospital leadership on all aspects of operations, including strategic planning, quality improvement, patient and employee satisfaction, and more.  The leader of each local PLG also serves on Capella’s National Physician Leadership Group (NPLG), bringing the medical staffs’ perspective to the table in helping make decisions that impact all of Capella’s hospitals.”

“A large part of our success is due to the leadership and engagement of the physicians at our hospitals,” said Capella’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Michael Wiechart. “Frankly, we can’t be successful unless physicians play a key role in all major decision-making processes.  As we’ve worked with each of our hospitals to fully engage and partner with physicians, we’ve validated the direct relationship between medical staff satisfaction, improved quality and increasing volumes.  We’re seeing significant and sustained increases in all three of these vital areas.  The leadership and trust of our physicians is key to that success.”

Erik Swensson, MD, FACS, Chief Medical Officer of Capella, has senior leadership responsibility for facilitating the work of the NPLG. Other members of the 2013 NPLG include:

• Greg Blackner, MD, Capital Medical Center (Olympia, WA)
• Matthew Bliven, MD, Willamette Valley Medical Center (McMinnville, OR)
• Hugh Don Cripps, MD, DeKalb Community Hospital (Smithville, TN)
• Victoria Damba, DO, Mineral Area Regional Medical Center (Farmington, MO)
• Alan Drake, MD, Highlands Medical Center (Sparta, TN)
• Jay Gregory, MD, EASTAR Health System (Muskogee, OK)
• Kevin Hale, MD, National Park Medical Center (Hot Springs, AR)
• Rick Harrison, MD, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center (Russellville, AR)
• Richard Levine, MD, Grandview Medical Center (Jasper, TN)
• Stephen Snell, MD, Southwestern Medical Center (Lawton, OK)
• James Spurlock, MD, Stones River hospitals (Woodbury, TN)
• Todd Stewart, MD, River Park Hospital (McMinnville, TN)

Dr. Bliven is currently serving as president, working in conjunction with Dr. Swensson to lead the group.

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 14 acute care and specialty hospital facilities in six 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, investing in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities. For more information, visit the website, www.CapellaHealthcare.com.

 

 

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