Providence Northwest names new CEO

  • HBJ staff
  • Thursday, February 21, 2013 5:08pm

EVERETT — Providence Health &Services announced Feb. 21 that Providence Regional Medical Center Everett chief operating officer Preston Simmons has been appointed to serve as the new chief executive for Providence Northwest Washington.

Simmons is stepping into a position vacated by former chief executive Dave Brooks, who left in January to lead Ascension Health System in East Detroit, Mich. Simmons has managed the day-to-day operations of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett since 2007.

An extensive search and selection process began in December, finding a number of highly capable and talented candidates from within Providence’s five-state system. Ultimately, the decision came down to Simmons’ depth of experience as an operational leader and health care administrator. He is also well-respected by the physician community in Snohomish County and is deeply committed to patients and employees.

“His track record as chief operating officer, combined with his sense of core values and mission, have played a large role in Providence’s success over the last five years. He has helped us grow and evolve to meet the health care needs of the community,” Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Community Ministry Board Chair Robert Leach said in a news release.

Simmons was named interim chief executive in December. “We believe he will provide continuity in a time of transformational change for health care and will allow us to continue pursuing our strategic direction without missing a beat,” Leach said.

Prior to joining Providence, Simmons served as senior associate administrator at the University of Washington Medical Center, where he worked since 1998. His previous experience also includes serving as CEO of a rural hospital within the Samaritan Health System in Page, Ariz. In addition, he held leadership positions at the former Stevens Hospital in Edmonds and Ballard Community Hospital in Seattle.

Simmons has a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Washington and is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine. He is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and is active in many professional and community organizations including the boards of the United Way of Snohomish County and the Mount Baker Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Simmons’ new position takes effect immediately. In this role, he will also serve on the executive team that oversees the regional affiliation between Providence and Swedish Health Services. The two organizations affiliated in February 2012 to collaborate on care delivery for Western Washington. This affiliation paved the way to develop innovative models of care, including an accountable care organization, in preparation for new reimbursement models from employers and payers.

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