ProMedica shuffles managers

8/10/2006

ProMedica Health Systems has announced a management restructuring, with its chief executive officer, Alan W. Brass, beginning to focus on "external opportunities."

Randy Oostra, who was named president and chief operating officer, will handle ProMedica's day-to-day operations.

Mr. Brass will handle "anything external that's related to the health system, and the continued expansion of the system," Jenny Goldberg, a ProMedica spokesman, said.

She declined to cite specific job duties, but said they would be broad.

Ms. Goldberg declined to disclose what effect, if any, the shuffle will have on Mr. Brass and Mr. Oostra's compensation.

Mr. Brass's reimbursement was last reported in December as $1,411,773, up 5 percent from the previous year.

Neither Mr. Brass nor Mr. Oostra could be reached for comment.

"The days are gone when, in the large systems, one person can really do both" day-to-day oversight and external activities, said Rick Wade, spokesman for the American Hospital Association.

External activities - including outreach to local businesses, partnerships with organizations in the community, and working with local officials - can pull the chief executive's attention away from internal operations, Mr. Wade said.

Gov. Bob Taft appointed Mr. Brass to the Ohio State University Board of Trustees on July 21. Mr. Brass is involved with 26 other professional association committees and boards, including some foundations related to health care. He also is an adjunct professor at OSU's School of Public Health.

Mr. Brass has led ProMedica, which includes Toledo Hospital and other area hospitals, since 1998.

ProMedica runs 10 hospitals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, has more than 15,000 employees, and sees more than 2.25 million patients a year.

According to the latest available financial data, ProMedica had annual revenues of about $1.2 billion in 2004.

The management reorganization at ProMedica is the second in a three-phase plan to foster expansion. The final stage is planned for early 2007.

The first stage of the management reorganization occurred in May, 2005, and involved a shuffle of senior hospital managers, Ms. Goldberg said.

This phase also involved some changes in senior management, including:

•Barbara Steele, the president of ProMedica's central and south regions, will oversee the east region.

•Terri McLain, who oversaw the east region, will continue in her role as chief communications officer and take on the duties of president for product line development and chief construction officer.

•Chuck Swisher, president of Lake Erie Regional Cooperative, Lake Erie Health Alliance, and Amerinet, will take on the additional role of chief materials management officer.

• Johns Horns, president of ProMedica's west region, will also oversee the north region.

•Barbara Petee, will now be corporate director for community and government relations and advocacy.

•Greg Corbett is now president of Bixby Medical Center, Adrian, and Herrick Memorial Hospital, Tecumseh.

•Gary Gordon is now president of Toledo Hospital, succeeding Ms. Steele.

•Timothy Jakacki is now president of Defiance Regional Medical Center, succeeding Mr. Horns. He will continue heading Fostoria Community Hospital.

•Bill Mueller is now president of Bay Park Community Hospital, succeeding Ms. McLain.

•Robert Reiter will assume the role of senior vice president for quality and continuous performance improvement.

•Daniel Schwanke will take over as senior vice president for operations at Fostoria Community Hospital. He will assume many of Mr. Jakacki's day-to-day duties.

•Jeff Keller is now ProMedica's vice president for compensation and benefits.

•John Meier will be vice president for quality at ProMedica.

•Paul Muneio is now vice president for future technology.

•Mike Ruhlen, vice president for medical affairs at Toledo Children's Hospital, is now also vice president for medical informatics.

Contact Eric Lund at:

elund@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.