CEO of Providence Swedish North Puget Sound steps down

EVERETT — After taking the helm a little over a year ago, Darren Redick, chief executive of Providence Swedish North Puget Sound, has stepped down.

Citing personal reasons for his departure, Redick’s last day was Friday.

Kristy Carrington, chief nursing officer for the Providence North Division, will serve as interim chief executive.

Redick has been in the spotlight this year amid a dire staffing shortage at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

In late June, the hospital’s emergency center was so overwhelmed that it opened a command center and funneled staff and resources from other departments to handle an influx of patients.

In an earlier incident, the hospital paused admissions to its pediatric unit due to a lack of nurses. Providence and other hospitals across the state are struggling with employee shortages and an abundance of patients.

The Providence Swedish North Puget Sound area includes the regional medical center Everett and Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties. Providence and Swedish have collaborated since 2012. In March, they united under one brand.

Redick became CEO in May 2021, replacing retiring CEO Kim Williams.

In all, Redick spent more than three decades with the nonprofit healthcare organization.

Redick, 61, began his tenure with Providence as a civil engineer, fresh out of college, assisting with the redevelopment of the health care company’s campus in Anchorage, Alaska.

In 1995, he relocated to Seattle, where he assisted with support services. Later, he led facilities and construction work.

In 2009, his career brought him to Everett, where he became Providence’s local director of operations and vice president of professional and support services.

He led the construction and commissioning of the 12-story, $460 million Providence Cymbaluk Medical Tower, which was built at the medical center’s Colby campus in 2011.

The building is named after Marshall and Katherine Cymbaluk, longtime owners of an Everett truck dealership, who donated $5 million to the project.

Redick also led development of Providence Everett’s Service Operations Center, which brings key operational information to a central hub in real time. These advancements and others led by Redick have been key to weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, Providence said in a news release.

“It has been a great honor to serve at Providence Swedish,” Redick said. “Our caregivers are the best there are, and I am proud of what we accomplished together in service to our mission.”

Redick spent a decade building relationships as a member of the board of the American Red Cross of Snohomish County and as a trustee for the YMCA’s local governing board.

Dr. R. Guy Hudson, chief executive of Providence’s North division and president of Swedish Health Services, said in a statement that he is “grateful to Darren for his servant leadership, extraordinary work ethic, and operational expertise. He served during a period of tremendous challenges and changes in health care. His legacy at Providence Swedish will impact patients and caregivers for years to come.”

“While we wish Darren the best, we are excited that Kristy Carrington will serve as interim chief executive,” Hudson said. “Kristy is a seasoned leader who brings a nurse’s perspective to all her work. She has an excellent vision for how health care — and nursing in particular — can adapt to the realities we face today and ensure the Providence and Swedish missions continue to thrive in the future. I am excited for her to bring her leadership and expertise to this role.”

Carrington was the chief nursing officer for Providence Swedish North Puget Sound, and before that, chief nursing officer of Swedish First Hill. Carrington holds a bachelor of nursing science from the University of Delaware and a master of business administration from Pepperdine University.

She’s stepping into the role weeks after a dozen Providence nurses told the Everett City Council they worry about having too many patients to properly care for them and called the situation “unsafe.” Some nurses asked the council to mandate hazard pay from the hospital for employees, many of whom are straining under intense workload. However, no action had been taken on the request, as it’s not clear that city councils can authorize hazard pay.

“One of my top priorities is developing our workforce through recruitment, retention and caregiver engagement,” Carrington said.

“I will also build on the strong foundation of diversity and inclusion work and community partnerships that make Providence Swedish a pillar in our communities,” Carrington said. “Providence and Swedish have long histories of serving patients in Snohomish County and beyond, and I am looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.