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NAH President/CEO Announces Retirement

James Puffenberger, president and chief executive officer of Northern Arizona Healthcare, (NAH) has announced his retirement from the helm of the healthcare system that includes Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) and Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC).

Puffenberger has served NAH for 10 years, joining the system in 1999 as its executive vice president/chief financial officer. In mid 2004 he assumed the position of the system’s president and CEO. Northern Arizona Healthcare includes FMC, VVMC, the VVMC Sedona Campus, Guardian Medical Transport, Guardian Air, and Northern Arizona Homecare and Hospice.

“It has been a rewarding experience leading an organization that is so focused on improving the healthcare of the communities it serves,” said Puffenberger. “This organization is staffed by talented individuals who are committed to quality and compassionate care. Being part of that has been a wonderful experience.”

Puffenberger names several accomplishments as career milestones, including implementation of an electronic medical records system; maintaining an A + bond rating during challenging economic times for hospitals; leaving NAH as one of the strongest financial organizations in Arizona; and negotiating a management contract with Little Colorado Medical Center in Winslow that saved the hospital from closing and ultimately allowed it to thrive. Puffenberger also launched a system-wide heart and vascular program - The Heart and Vascular Center of Northern Arizona.

“We thank Jim for his years of dedicated service to our system, our hospitals and the communities they serve,” said Bob Montoya, chairman of the NAH Board of Directors. “He has helped position our organization for the future.”

FMC President Bill Bradel will assume leadership of both NAH hospitals and Jack Dempsey, who is currently serving as interim president of VVMC, will serve as interim NAH president while the NAH Board works to establish a leadership model to best match the changing healthcare environment.

Bradel assumed the leadership of FMC in 2006, and has experience spanning more than 20 years as a senior executive in hospitals and health systems. Dempsey joined NAH in July 1999 and has served as the organization’s executive vice president, law and ethics and executive information officer. Most recently, he has served as interim president of Verde Valley Medical Center.

New CEO at Banner Estrella

This week non-profit Banner Health announced five executive re-assignments and appointments, including a new chief executive officer, Robert Gould, at Banner Estrella Medical Center.

The new assignments, which affect three of Banner Health's 10 Valley hospitals, are effective immediately. Following are the re-assignments and appointments:

• Kathy Bollinger, CEO of Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix since 2006, has been promoted to president of Arizona West Region for Banner Health.
• Robert Gould, associate administrator at Banner Estrella since August, has been promoted to chief executive officer at the hospital.
• Becky Kuhn, chief executive officer of Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center since September, has been promoted to president of Arizona East Region for Banner Health.
• John Harrington, Jr., chief executive officer of Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa since 2006, has been re-assigned to serve as chief executive officer of Banner Del E. Webb.
• Laura Robertson, chief nursing officer since 2006, has been promoted to chief executive officer at Banner Heart Hospital.

Gould has been in health care for 17 years and formerly served as chief financial officer and director of operations for Banner-operated Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Denali Center in Alaska before relocating to Phoenix in 2008 to be associate administrator at Banner Estrella. Gould has experience in all facets of health care administration including clinical, ancillary and financial. He holds a master's degree in finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a bachelor's degree in finance from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, not-for-profit health care systems in the country. The system owns or manages 23 acute-care hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. To learn more about Banner health, go to www.bannerhealth.com.

Abrazo hires 18 nurse graduates, offers mentorship program

Beginning this week, 18 new nurse graduates from Arizona State University’s College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation began a year-long nurse residency program at Abrazo Health Care. The bachelor degreed nurses will participate in a three-month clinical rotation under the direction of an experienced nurse at three Abrazo hospitals including: Maryvale Hospital in Phoenix; Phoenix Baptist Hospital in Phoenix; and West Valley Hospital in Goodyear; and will be assigned to the Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Medical and Surgical, and Telemetry units.

Despite a poor economy and a significant reduction in available jobs in the Valley, Abrazo Health Care has invested in these nurses by providing extensive training programs, skilled nurse mentors and on-going education classes, along with competitive salaries and full health benefits to attract and retain qualified nurses.

“It is our intention through this program to provide training, development and the experience needed in order to obtain a successful career in nursing,” said Carol Feuger, RN, chief nursing executive, Abrazo Health Care. “The 18 nurses who were selected for the program have demonstrated their ability and desire to learn and excel, and expressed a true passion for caring for patients.”

Next week the group will meet with their assigned nurse preceptor, a specially-trained nurse who will provide supervision, training, and guidance during the three-month rotation, and offer continued support in the months following.

For more information about the nurse residency program, call (602) 674-6592.

Banner Estrella Medical Center introduces two new faces to physician leadership

Ken Welch, MD, has accepted the position of Chief Medical Officer at Banner Estrella Medical Center. Dr. Welch replaces former Chief Medical Officer Charlie Agee, MD, who transitioned to a new role as chief medical officer for Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center earlier this month.

“Ken brings high energy, and a unique set of leadership skills to Banner Estrella,” said Chief Executive Officer Kathy Bollinger. “He is clearly focused on doing the right thing for the patient. We are excited to have him as part of our team.” Dr. Welch, a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist for more than 20 years, left private practice to provide medical direction for hospitals and not-for-profit organizations in the Valley. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to Banner Estrella.

Kent Johnson, MD, has been elected by the hospital’s medical staff to a two-year term as Chief of Staff at Banner Estrella Medical Center. Dr. Johnson replaces former Chief of Staff Jon King, MD.

“I have no doubt Kent will do an exemplary job leading and representing the medical staff,” said Dr. King. Prior to assuming his new role, Dr. Johnson served as Banner Estrella’s Vice Chief of Staff from 2007-2009, and Secretary/Treasurer from 2005-2007. In addition, he is closely involved in the Medical Staff Bylaws,Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and Perinatal committees at the hospital.

University Physicians Healthcare Appoints Larry Adrich as President & CEO

The University Physicians Healthcare Board of Directors has named Lawrence “Larry” J. Aldrich president and chief executive officer. Aldrich has served as interim CEO since the resignation of former CEO Norman Botsford in June. He now heads all three divisions of UPH: a 350-member physicians group practice affiliated with The University of Arizona College of Medicine; a health plan division and University Physicians Hospital. His duties include managing strategic planning, corporate direction and relationships with the UA, University Medical Center, local and state governments and the community.

“During his tenure as interim CEO, Larry provided great direction and leadership that has enabled UPH to make multiple, significant improvements in its business functions,” said Steve Goldschmid MD, chairman, UPH Board of Directors. “The board unanimously agreed to place Larry in the permanent CEO position.”

Since May 2007, Aldrich has served as senior vice president of corporate operations and general counsel for UPH. Prior to joining UPH, he was the founding chief operating officer at The Critical Path Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization. He was also CEO of the Tucson Newspapers for eight years and a venture capitalist; he also has served as a federal prosecutor and antitrust trial counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice. Aldrich holds a law degree from Tulane Law School and a civil engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.

University Physicians Healthcare is a nonprofit corporation created in 1985 as the medical practice of the physicians of the UA College of Medicine. Together, UPH, The University of Arizona, University Physicians Hospital and University Medical Center combine to care for patients, educate medical students, train young physicians and conduct clinical research. With over 350 physicians and 1,500 staff, UPH is Arizona’s largest physicians group.

UMC Receives News 'Andrea's Closet' for Emergency Department

A trip to the ER can be a scary experience – particularly for children. In an effort to reduce anxiety during a health emergency, the University Medical Center Emergency Department will receive an “Andrea’s Closet,” filled with new toys.

A non-profit organization, Andrea's Closet brings young patients comfort and distraction from their illness by allowing them to choose a special gift from a toy-filled closet. Andrea's Closet is named for Andrea Brunk, who was 8 years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2000. Like many children dealing with such a disease, Andrea dreaded her regular visits to a Phoenix-area hospital. During one of Andrea’s many hospital stays, she was exploring the ward and stumbled upon the closet that the staff in the child life department used to store their goodies.

"Her face just lit up," said Andrea's mom, Traci Brunk. “We have found that after a child has undergone a procedure, that a toy of their choosing helps to alleviate some of the anxiety caused by the medical emergency,” says Mary Celeste Stone, certified child life specialist at UMC. “After we have the dedication ceremony, the new Andrea’s Closet will be taken to the Emergency Department,” she says.

East Valley Orthopaedic Private Practice Welcomes New Hire

Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists, announces the hire of Certified Physician Assistant, Ms. Julie Madrid. Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists is a new private practice located in Gilbert and is led by Orthopaedic Surgeon, Craig Weinstein, MD, MPH.

Madrid comes to Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists with experience as a physical therapy technician and has completed extensive clinical rotations at a variety of practices throughout the Valley including, family, women, pediatric, orthopaedic and emergency practices.

Madrid is an Arizona native and attended Horizon High School and later graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Madrid received her Masters of Science at Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University.

“We are delighted to welcome Julie Madrid to the Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists family,” said Dr. Weinstein. “As a certified physician assistant, Julie adds great value to our practice, as she is able to treat non-operative patients independently, which allows for more availability for our patients.”

Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists is one of the first orthopaedic practices from south Gilbert to Casa Grande that is focused on sports medicine surgery. Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists provides care for sports related and non-sports related injuries, including fractures, workplace injuries, and recreational injuries. The facility features an array of the latest orthopaedic technology, including a digital x-ray machine, electronic medical records and an innovative office lay-out, which helps achieve excellence in patient care and privacy.

For more information, visit www.sossportsmed.com.