Mission Hospital CEO Resigns
Joseph Damore announced Tuesday that he's resigning as President and CEO of Mission Hospital, effective January 31, 2010.
Damore's resignation comes amid ongoing tensions between doctors and hospital administrators.
The following is from a statement from the hospital:
"In accepting his resignation, the Board thanked Damore for his five years of outstanding service to Mission, his commitment to quality healthcare at an affordable cost, and for his unselfish decision made in the best interests of patients, the hospital and health system.
Under Joes leadership, Mission has achieved national recognition for its outstanding clinical care and innovation, while maintaining a sound financial foundation for our growing health system, said Mission Health System Board Chair George Renfro.
We are very appreciative of his many contributions, not just to Missions success these past five years but also to the greater Asheville community. He has given generously of his time and his resources and made Asheville a better place for all of us."
George Renfro, Mission Board Chair, expressed the Board's appreciation to Damore for preparing Mission for the future: "Joe has built upon our strong culture of quality, provided sound financial stewardship and has further developed Mission as an integrated regional health system advancing the well-being of the people who call Western North Carolina home."
The Board will initiate a search for an interim leader, who will work closely with Damore to ensure a smooth transition.
Renfro noted that in recent months, the Board has been engaged in a broad and thoughtful evaluation of how it can work with the administration and medical staff to meet the needs of the region's patients in today's rapidly changing healthcare environment. As part of this process, the Board has accepted the report of the special Hospital/Physician Relations Committee, which was formed in late July and has conducted interviews with more than 100 physicians and 19 management team members. The Board will begin work immediately evaluating the specific recommendations in the report and assessing how best to move forward.
"In implementing these changes, Renfro noted that Mission will build on its clinical, financial and operational strengths. Mission is a healthcare system with nationally ranked clinical quality, a reputation as one of the best health systems in the nation for combining high quality and low cost, a stable financial outlook that has earned us continued AA ratings from all three major bond rating agencies, and long-standing community partnerships," Renfro said. "We will draw on these strengths as we continue to meet Western North Carolinas growing healthcare needs."
Updated: Wednesday, October 28 2009, 7:45 AM
Mission President and CEO Resigns
Posted: Wednesday, October 28 2009, 09:52 AM CDT
