Hospital Authority Board Names Kevin Spiegel As New Erlanger President, CEO

The Hospital Authority Board voted 5-3 on Monday night to name Kevin Spiegel, chief executive officer of Methodist La-Bonheur Healthcare at Methodist University in Memphis, as the new president and CEO of Erlanger Health Systems.

He was one of three finalists for the post after a lengthy search process to replace Jim Brexler, who had resigned under pressure.

Voting in favor of Mr. Spiegel were Dr. Phyllis Miller who led the search process, Kim White, Dr. Dan Fisher, Dr. Nita Shumaker and Mike Griffin. 

Voting in opposition were Russell King, Donnie Hutcherson and Jim Worthington.

They later made the motion unanimous.

Jennifer Stanley was absent and Chairman Ron Loving did not vote.

Mr. King had earlier asked for a delay in the vote. He said the hospital finances are $10 million better than last fiscal year and should be in the black at the end of the fiscal year. He said a number of physicians had asked the board to hold up. Mr. King was the only one voting not to go forward.

Ms. White urged a vote, saying, "We are really looking toward Erlanger's future."

Mr. Hutcherson said it is still not known whether a bill in the Legislature to change the structure of the Erlanger board will be approved. He noted it takes a two-thirds majority of the County Commission for ratification. 

Dr. Miller said there had been "an impressive slate of candidates" brought forth by a search firm, and she said the finalists all met the qualifications for leading Erlanger forward.

She said the interim administration had made strides "under difficult circumstances" over the past year and a half, but it was necessary to install new leadership. Charsetta Woodard-Thompson has been serving as interim CEO. She had wanted the permanent job and had some support among physicians and staff.

Dr. Miller said the search process was over in January, but the board held up on making a decision for some weeks at the request of Rep. Gerald McCormick. She said she believes that the state legislative delegation now does not object to the naming of a new CEO. 

Mr. Worthington said it was time to move forward with a new leader. The former coach said, using a sports term, 'the hay's in the barn.' He said, "I hope the hay will be good hay for the good of the hospital."

Finalists were Mr. Spiegel - currently serves as CEO at Methodist University Hospital (MUH) in Memphis, MUH, part of Methodist-Le Bonheur Healthcare, is the major academic campus for the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Medicine, where he is an assistant professor In previous years he has been president and CEO for Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Ohio and COO at Southampton Hospital in Southampton, N.Y. Mr. Siegel is currently a board member with Mid-South Healthcare Executives, and Acting Regent for Tennessee with the American College of Healthcare Executives.  

- Donald R. Gintzig, U.S. Navy Tear Admiral and senior healthcare executive - currently Rear Admiral, Senior Healthcare Executive with the United States Navy. Based in Washington D.C., he serves on both Active and Reserve Duty for one of the nation’s largest and most integrated health systems. In previous years, he was CEO for United Health Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota and president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tn. He is past executive board member with the Tennessee Hospital Association and currently Regional Policy board member with the American Hospital Association.

- Ken Haynes, who was at St. Joseph Health System in Lexington, Ky., through last July. CEO with responsibility for St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph East Hospital and St. Joseph Jessamine, based in Lexington, Ky. from 2008 to mid-2012. The seven-hospital St. Joseph Health System spans central and eastern Kentucky and is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). Previously, Mr. Haynes served as CEO for St. Vincent Health System in Little Rock, Ar., and as assistant administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He was named Senior Healthcare Executive of the Year by the American College of Healthcare Executives in Arkansas in 2006, and was formerly on the board of directors of both the Little Rock and Lexington Chambers of Commerce.

Erlanger employees were sent this internal communication after the meeting:

At a called meeting of the Erlanger Board of Trustees, the board voted to name Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, as the new President and CEO of the Erlanger Health System. The vote was 5 to 3 for Mr. Spiegel. After the motion carried, trustee Russell King made a motion that the vote be reflected as unanimous by the full board.

It is anticipated that Mr. Spiegel will assume his new position at Erlanger by the end of March.

Mr. Spiegel has served as CEO at Methodist University Hospital (MUF) inMemphis, Tenn., for the past five years. MUH, part of Methodist-Le Bonheur Healthcare, is the major academic campus for the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Medicine, where he is an assistant professor. MUH has been named the number one regional hospital system by U.S. News and World Report for three consecutive years and has six regional centers of excellence.

In previous years he has been President and CEO for Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren,Ohio, and COO at SouthamptonHospital in Southampton, NY. Mr. Spiegel is currently a board member with Mid-South Healthcare Executives, and he is Acting Regent for Tennessee with the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Mr. Spiegel holds a MBA in Health Care Administration from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. He received a B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz, New York.

“As we conclude the CEO search process, I want to express my appreciation to Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson for her years of leadership and contributions to Erlanger,” said Board Chairman Ron Loving. “Since undertaking the role of interim CEO, she has made considerable progress towards improvements in patient satisfaction, financial operations as well as physician relations,” he added.