The board of directors for Cooperstown, N.Y.-based Bassett Healthcare Network unanimously voted to promote Staci Thompson from interim to permanent president and CEO.
Ms. Thompson became the interim president and CEO Jan. 1 after Tommy Ibrahim, MD, exited the role to join Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health Plan as CEO. Ms. Thompson previously spent 28 years at The Guthrie Clinic, where she spent time as executive vice president and COO of the Guthrie Medical Group, in addition to other leadership roles.
"Her extensive experience in healthcare operations leadership has positioned her to provide highly qualified and critical guidance at a pivotal time – as Bassett Healthcare Network continues to navigate complex industry headwinds around recruitment and retention, operational efficiency, the changing needs of our patients and communities, and rapidly expanding technological advancements in medicine," said Doug Hastings, chair of Bassett's board of directors, in a news release.
In the last two and a half months, Ms. Bassett has defined organizational priorities to focus on the system's financial stability, efficiency, recruitment and retention and continued network integration. She also emphasizes innovation and virtual care in the rural healthcare setting.
"Having served at Guthrie, a rural healthcare system that spans more than 10,000 square miles in New York and Pennsylvania, I have a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges of rural patient populations," Ms. Thompson said in the news release. "I am dedicated to the patients and communities Bassett serves – and to the importance of honoring its rich history and trusted position as a local, independent, community-centered network of care."