Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System has named Ketul Patel as its next president and CEO.
Mr. Patel currently serves as CEO of Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and president of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health’s Pacific Northwest region. He plans to join Wellstar in late October, according to a July 8 health system news release.
He will succeed Candice Saunders, BSN, who plans to retire after a decade in the role.
Mr. Patel led the 2021 merger of CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason to form VMFH, which now includes more than 300 patient care locations and more than 20,000 team members. He also oversaw the launch of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Care Network, which partners with independent hospitals seeking support from VMFH while maintaining their independence.
Mr. Patel told Becker’s in December that efforts to foster a supportive culture and the development of the Virginia Mason Production System — a standardized management approach — have helped VMFH become the only Washington-based system to receive “A” safety grades across all hospitals from The Leapfrog Group.
“We have patients that are coming from all over the country, and even in some cases from around the world, to get the care that they need at Virginia Mason Francican Health, so I’m very proud of that,” Mr. Patel said. “It comes down to our team members and everything that they’re doing every day to take care of our patients and keep people healthy in the community, so I always want to recognize them.”
Wellstar operates 11 hospitals and employs 33,000 people.
