The Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) Board of Directors has announced Jim Kendrick as the organization's new President and Chief Executive, effective April 17, 2017. Kendrick has been in executive healthcare leadership in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors for more than 20 years.
"We are excited for Jim's leadership as we begin a new era of growth for CHC and service to community hospitals nationwide," said Ken Gordon, CHC Board Chair. "We are confident in Jim's mission-focus and ability to continue our success, as he follows the footprint of Mike Williams, our founding CEO and visionary for CHC's initial 20 years." Williams will serve in an advisory capacity during Kendrick's transition.
Kendrick most recently served as CEO of AllianceHealth Oklahoma, a 10-hospital network and affiliate of Community Health Systems (CHS). He presided over 10 network hospitals, more than 70 affiliated medical practices, six home health agencies, and 4,500 employees. Most notably, he fostered strength within the system, earning statewide recognition.
For a period of 10 years prior, Kendrick was CEO for Longview Regional Medical Center, Longview, Texas. LRMC was owned by Triad at the time of his hire and later acquired by CHS. During his distinguished tenure at LRMC, the hospital was named to Modern Healthcare magazine's list of Best Places to Work in Health Care for 2009. In September 2010, he was chosen by Modern Healthcare as one of the Up & Comers for 2010.
Prior to joining LRMC, Kendrick served as Chief Operating Officer of Wesley Medical Center of Hattiesburg, Miss., leading operational efficiency, obstetrical and surgical program growth, and continuous improvement in patient satisfaction scores. Noteworthy, the hospital's uninterrupted delivery of service during hurricane Katrina enhanced the medical staff's and community's perception of the hospital.
Kendrick spent more than seven years of his early career with Hillcrest Healthcare System (HHS) of Tulsa, Okla. Among his accomplishments as COO for Tulsa Regional Medical Center (TRMC), a HHS hospital, he helped to significantly increase hospital admissions and EBITDA, and establish TRMC as the primary teaching hospital for Oklahoma State University's College of Medicine. Prior, he served as Vice President of Operations for Tulsa-based Hillcrest Medical Center & Kaiser Medical Center, a HHS-affiliate acute care hospital and rehabilitation hospital.
In addition to healthcare executive leadership, Kendrick is a patient and community advocate. He has been active in both professional organizations and his local communities. In 2014, Kendrick received the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award. He has served as Chairman of the Longview Chamber of Commerce, a Board member of the Longview Economic Development Corporation, and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kendrick earned his Master's in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University-San Antonio, was an Administrative Resident for Hillcrest Medical Center-Tulsa, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Texas Permian Basin-Odessa.
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