December 19, 2005, Jacksonville, FL -- St. Vincent’s Health System has named Scott A. Whalen, Ph.D., as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Whalen has been COO in the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, since 2000. He will begin his new role at St. Vincent’s on January 16, 2006.
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Whalen
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In his role At Mount Carmel Health System, Whalen is responsible for Mount Carmel West, a 430-bed urban hospital that is part of a three-hospital health system that includes two other hospitals in the Columbus area. It has five graduate medical residencies and a Level II Trauma Center. Whalen led a $10 million operational turnaround at the medical center that included improvements in operations and a Six Sigma Initiatives project that led to $5 million in savings. Mount Carmel Health System is part of Trinity Health, a Catholic health system based in Novi, Michigan with 29 owned hospitals and 16 others under its management in six states.
“We are very pleased that Scott Whalen will be joining our ministry here at St. Vincent’s,” said Chief Executive Officer John Maher. “He has a unique background in the sciences that complements his management expertise. Scott has an impressive track record and is familiar with the breadth and scope of an active Catholic health ministry. That combination of skills and experience we think makes him an outstanding choice for COO at St. Vincent’s.”
Whalen managed a financial turnaround at Mount Carmel, reversing a $3.3 million loss to a $6.2 million operational net income. The losses were caused by dramatic increases in charity care costs. Whalen instituted improvements and operational changes, including a $3 million savings in medical supplies and scheduling improvements in the surgical and outpatient areas that increased efficiency.
“I am excited to be part of the ministry at St. Vincent’s Health System,” Whalen said. “I look forward to contributing to the excellent quality care that is provided by the physicians and associates there. My wife Linda and I are anxious to become part of the North Florida community.”
Prior to his work at Mount Carmel, Whalen was Vice President for Ancillary Services at Aultman Health Foundation in Canton, Ohio. There, he managed the Laboratory, Radiology, Pharmacy, Medical Education, Physician Recruitment and Physician contracting departments. His work included the design and implementation of a robotic clinical laboratory and a community-based blood program.
Whalen holds a Ph.D. in Medical Science/Microbiology from the Medical College of Ohio, and a BS and MS in Biology from Bowling Green State University. He was a Senior Research Scientist with Baxter Healthcare and an Adjunct Instructor at Medical College of Ohio.
He serves on the boards of the Madison (OH) County Hospital, the Central Ohio American Red Cross, Lifeline of Ohio Organ Procurement Board, and is a member of the Franklinton Area Commission and Rotary International.
Whalen and his wife, Linda, are the parents of five adult children. Linda and Scott will permanently relocate to the North Florida area in February 2006.
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