Health care shifts abound in UC

UPPER CUMBERLAND – A lot has changed in the health care scene in the Upper Cumberland in 2014, namely in terms of personnel and projects.

New CEOs have been named at three hospitals in the region in recent months. Jeremy Biggs was tapped to lead Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville following its merger with Covenant Health earlier this year. Biggs succeeded Ed Anderson, who had served in various leadership roles at the hospital since 1992. Joanne Fenton was appointed CEO of Livingston Regional Hospital in April after former CEO Michael Meadows took a medical leave of absence. And at Jamestown Regional in Fentress County, Lynette Pritchett is now serving as chief executive officer and chief financial officer, a move made official as of Sept. 8 after serving as an interim. There’s also a new CFO at Highlands Medical Center in Sparta. Jennifer Weldon brings more than 10 years of hospital accounting experience to the position.

As for projects, Highland Medical Center wrapped up a series of upgrades that are now complete. Several projects are either finished or underway at CRMC, including construction of a new wound care center that will be up and running around second quarter 2015. The center will include two hyperbaric chambers to expedite healing.

Cookeville’s hospital also recently relocated its pharmacy, a space that’s expanded by well over 50 percent and complies with new regulations for sterile compounding in light of the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak. Paul Korth, CRMC CEO, said they were among the first in the state to comply.

At Cumberland River, outpatient services continue to expand since its merger with CRMC. Physicians in the field of general surgery, cardiology and ENT continue to provide care.

 

Liz Engel is the editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal. She can be reached at liz@ucbjournal.com

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