Mercy Health - Springfield has named Rhonda Beane its Chief Nursing Officer and Chris Howe its Chief Operating Officer. Beane assumes her role on November 11 and Howe on November 18. Beane replaces Elaine Storrs, who accepted a role in another state earlier this year. Howe assumes his role from Adam Groshans, who was promoted to Mercy Health – Springfield president in August. Both leaders report to Groshans.
“I am pleased to welcome Rhonda and Chris to Mercy Health – Springfield,” said Groshans. “Their mix of skills and experience will help us continue to provide excellent care to our patients while poising us for successful growth in services and geographically.”
As the chief nursing officer, Beane’s responsibilities include supervising nurses and nurse managers, facilitating the design and implementing the delivery of patient care, recommending strategies to improve services, reaching established goals and maintaining excellent patient outcomes.
Howe’s responsibilities as chief operating officer include oversight of hospital operations, including multiple clinical and support departments.
Beane joins Mercy Health from St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, where she has led surgical services, supervising a staff of 400 who care for 17,000 patients annually. Previously, she was the director of surgical services and inpatient GI at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Malone College in Canton, Ohio and a master’s degree in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner from Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH.
Most recently, Howe served as chief executive officer of Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill, West Virginia and its associated network, including a critical access hospital, multispecialty practice group, rehabilitation center, sleep center and audiology center. Previously, has was the assistant CEO of Regional Hospital of Scranton, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Howe holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health administration, both from University of South Carolina in Columbia.