Mitchell New Health First Chief Operating Officer

By  //  May 1, 2012

HEALTHCARE NEWS

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Health First President & CEO Steven P. Johnson announced today that James “Stuart” Mitchell has been selected as Health First’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer.

Mitchell is filling the COO position that was vacated by Larry Garrison who retired at the end of last year.

In this role, Mitchell will be responsible for the operations of the Hospital Division, which includes the Tertiary Hospital Division (Holmes Regional Medical Center), as well as the Community Hospitals Division (Cape Canaveral Hospital, Palm Bay Hospital, and Viera Hospital).

James “Stuart” Mitchell has been selected as Health First’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. (Image courtesy Health First)

He will also direct the operations of Quality & Outcomes, Nursing, Plant Operations, Environmental, Supply Chain, and Safety & Security.

As Health First’s COO, Mitchell will also oversee Hospital-Based Physicians, and the operations of Health First Joint Ventures.

Mitchell comes to Health First from INTEGRIS Health based in Oklahoma City, Okla.

INTEGRIS Health is the largest state-owned healthcare corporation in Oklahoma, with 9,000 employees, 15 hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician clinics, mental health facilities, a heart hospital, cancer institute, home health agencies, with an annual net revenue in excess of $1.5 billion.

Experience

He has served as the company’s Managing Director for Regional Facilities and was responsible for the direction and coordination of all operational functions for eight regional facilities as well as the home health agency, outpatient clinics, and physician offices.

Mitchell has 35 years of experience in the healthcare field and began his career as assistant administrator of Phenix Medical Park Hospital in Phenix City, Ala.

He was promoted to Hospital Administrator/CEO of the Phenix City, Alabama hospital where he served 10 years before moving to Mississippi to serve as CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital — Golden Triangle in Columbus.

Mitchell also previously served as Vice President and Memphis Metropolitan Market Leader for Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation, and as Hospital CEO/Administrator for Baptist Memorial Hospital, both located in Memphis, Tenn.

“Stuart brings a wealth of knowledge and operational experience to our organization from the healthcare industry. He is a proven, successful leader in our field, and we are confident in his abilities to fulfill the comprehensive operational responsibilities of our organization,” said Steven P. Johnson, President & CEO of Health First.

Education

Mitchell earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and his Masters in Business Administration degree from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.

He also achieved Advanced Leadership in Healthcare certification after attending the University of Michigan Business School.

Mitchell and his family have relocated fromOklahomatoFlorida, where he is looking forward to joining the Health First team and becoming part of the Brevard community.

“I’m impressed by the compassion and commitment I have seen from the leadership of Health First and I’m excited to join in and do my part in advancing the health of this vibrant community,” said Mitchell.