Direct Line from Steve Edwards for 10/4/2019

Senior leadership promotions

As we continue to grow and advance our organization, I am pleased to announce the following senior leader promotions effective January 2020: Ron Prenger, Sr. V.P., Chief Hospital Officer will advance to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, CoxHealth. Karen Kramer, VP, System Chief Nursing Officer will replace Ron as the Senior Vice President and Chief Hospital Officer, Springfield Hospital Group. Amanda Hedgpeth, VP, Clinical Serviceswill advance to Vice President of Hospital Operations, expanding her responsibilities in the Springfield Hospital Group. Ashley Kimberling Casad will join the CoxHealth team as Vice President of Clinical Services, Springfield Hospital Group. Ashley joins us from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, where she has served as the Assistant Administrator, Neurosciences.

Cox Monett ranks No. 15 in nation on Best Places to Work in healthcare list

Modern Healthcare’s 2019 Best Places to Work in Healthcare has ranked Cox Monett as No. 15 out of 4,500 healthcare providers in the U.S. This is the second consecutive year the hospital has made the prestigious list. Cox Monett is the only critical access hospital in Missouri selected for this award, and one of only two hospitals in Missouri to be named to the elite group. I am proud of the leadership of Darren Bass, the support of the Monett community and our wonderful, caring employees.

Minimally invasive heart procedure cleared for more people

CoxHealth heart specialists are certified to perform a heart valve replacement procedure that the FDA recently approved for more people. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was previously only available for high-risk patients.

Creator of IN90 innovation process calls CoxHealth leaders “true innovators”

CoxHealth uses a process called IN90 for the rapid development and deployment of innovation, from idea to reality in 90 days. Since learning about this model, 12 projects have either been completed or are underway at CoxHealth. Our first project using IN90 was Save My Spot. The creator of IN90, Kurt Baumberger, came to CoxHealth this week to learn why CoxHealth has been so successful with implementing his methodology, and scaling it to a wide variety of projects. Baumberger says CoxHealth is leading the industry in having a culture that supports innovation.

Free flu shots to the community

CoxHealth and other community partners that make up the Springfield Flu Coalition are providing free flu shots to uninsured adults in Greene County during several clinics in October.

October charity focus on domestic violence awareness

CoxHealth will be highlighting several community organizations that promote domestic violence awareness and support victims. Employees will be wearing iCare eye patches or stickers on Friday, October 25 in support of Harmony House’s awareness efforts.

Thank you for everything you do to support our patients and our community,

Steve