Mercy Health Announces Key Leadership Appointments
Cincinnati, Ohio (April 8, 2016) – Mercy Health – a Catholic healthcare ministry serving Ohio and Kentucky – today announced the appointment of a new senior executive.
Anton Decker, MBBCh will serve as the system’s chief clinical officer, assuming responsibility for system-wide strategic leadership of the organization's physician network and clinical imperatives. He also will continue his role as president of Mercy Health Physicians, Mercy Health’s partner physician group practice. Prior to joining Mercy in 2015, Dr. Decker served as chief medical officer and chairman of Banner Medical Group in Arizona. He also was chairman of the board of Banner Health Network, Banner’s accountable care organization. Dr. Decker is a gastroenterologist and worked at Mayo Clinic Rochester and Arizona where he was an associate professor of medicine.
Brian Smith has been named chief operating officer and will assume responsibility for all regional operations, electronic medical records and information technology, facilities, nursing and Mercy Health’s relationship with Summa Health System. Previously, he served as executive vice president of operations for Mercy Health’s northern markets where he oversaw performance improvements in the Toledo, Lima, Lorain and Youngstown markets. Earlier in his career, Smith served as CEO of Mercy Health North Division and executive vice president/chief operating officer of St. Rita’s Health Partners in Lima, Ohio.
Drew Banks was appointed chief strategy officer. In this newly created role, he will guide Mercy Health’s efforts to continue transforming the delivery of care and reshaping payment strategies around these initiatives. Prior to joining Mercy Health, Banks served as president/CEO of DBS Healthcare Consulting where he led accountable care design, strategic planning and operational excellence initiatives with health systems across the United States. Previously, he spent seven years in various leadership roles with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky.
“Each of these leaders brings significant experience and a clear vision for how we can work together to ensure patients remain at the center of everything we do,” said John Starcher, Mercy Health president and CEO. “Their leadership and expertise will be key to our success as we continue working to integrate physician, clinical and operational leadership across our ministry and transform the way we provide care.”
About Mercy Health
Mercy Health (formerly Catholic Health Partners) is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest health systems in the United States, employing more than 34,000 employees in Ohio and Kentucky. With $6 billion in assets, Mercy Health operates about 450 health facilities, including 23 hospitals, eight senior living communities, five hospice programs and seven home health agencies. Its accountable care organization, Mercy Health Select, is one of the top 10 ACOs in the country for Medicare Shared Savings, generating more than $15 million in savings in 2014. Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) consistently rates Mercy Health among the nation’s top health systems for clinical quality and efficiency. In keeping with its mission, Mercy Health provides about $1 million per day in community benefit services. Mercy Health’s bonds are rated AA- by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, and A1 by Moody’s. Mercy Health is a founding member of Health Innovations Ohio, which focuses on providing health services that result in higher quality, better health and greater value. For more information, visit www.mercy.com or connect with Mercy Health on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter (@LivingMercyHlth).
Anton Decker, MBBCh will serve as the system’s chief clinical officer, assuming responsibility for system-wide strategic leadership of the organization's physician network and clinical imperatives. He also will continue his role as president of Mercy Health Physicians, Mercy Health’s partner physician group practice. Prior to joining Mercy in 2015, Dr. Decker served as chief medical officer and chairman of Banner Medical Group in Arizona. He also was chairman of the board of Banner Health Network, Banner’s accountable care organization. Dr. Decker is a gastroenterologist and worked at Mayo Clinic Rochester and Arizona where he was an associate professor of medicine.
Brian Smith has been named chief operating officer and will assume responsibility for all regional operations, electronic medical records and information technology, facilities, nursing and Mercy Health’s relationship with Summa Health System. Previously, he served as executive vice president of operations for Mercy Health’s northern markets where he oversaw performance improvements in the Toledo, Lima, Lorain and Youngstown markets. Earlier in his career, Smith served as CEO of Mercy Health North Division and executive vice president/chief operating officer of St. Rita’s Health Partners in Lima, Ohio.
Drew Banks was appointed chief strategy officer. In this newly created role, he will guide Mercy Health’s efforts to continue transforming the delivery of care and reshaping payment strategies around these initiatives. Prior to joining Mercy Health, Banks served as president/CEO of DBS Healthcare Consulting where he led accountable care design, strategic planning and operational excellence initiatives with health systems across the United States. Previously, he spent seven years in various leadership roles with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky.
“Each of these leaders brings significant experience and a clear vision for how we can work together to ensure patients remain at the center of everything we do,” said John Starcher, Mercy Health president and CEO. “Their leadership and expertise will be key to our success as we continue working to integrate physician, clinical and operational leadership across our ministry and transform the way we provide care.”
About Mercy Health
Mercy Health (formerly Catholic Health Partners) is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest health systems in the United States, employing more than 34,000 employees in Ohio and Kentucky. With $6 billion in assets, Mercy Health operates about 450 health facilities, including 23 hospitals, eight senior living communities, five hospice programs and seven home health agencies. Its accountable care organization, Mercy Health Select, is one of the top 10 ACOs in the country for Medicare Shared Savings, generating more than $15 million in savings in 2014. Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) consistently rates Mercy Health among the nation’s top health systems for clinical quality and efficiency. In keeping with its mission, Mercy Health provides about $1 million per day in community benefit services. Mercy Health’s bonds are rated AA- by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, and A1 by Moody’s. Mercy Health is a founding member of Health Innovations Ohio, which focuses on providing health services that result in higher quality, better health and greater value. For more information, visit www.mercy.com or connect with Mercy Health on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter (@LivingMercyHlth).