Capella Health

Chief Medical Officer for Baptist Hospital to help guide hospitals

Franklin, TN (September 28, 2012) – Geoffrey H. Smallwood, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Baptist Hospital, part of the Saint Thomas Health system, has been appointed by Capella Healthcare and Saint Thomas Health to the Capella-Upper Cumberland Healthcare Initiatives (UCHI) Board. The UCHI Board is the governing body for the joint venture between Capella Healthcare and UCHI (an organization of physicians) that includes DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville, Highlands Medical Center in Sparta, and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. These hospitals, along with River Park Hospital in McMinnville, are part of the Capella-Saint Thomas Health Services partnership.

The Capella-UCHI Board provides guidance for the hospital CEOs who work in conjunction with their respective Boards of Trustees and medical staff leadership. Capella representatives on the board are Erik Swensson, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Capella; Mark Medley, President of Hospital Operations for Capella; Michael Wiechart, SVP and Chief Operating Officer for Capella; Bill Little, CEO of Highlands Medical Center and Dr. Smallwood. UCHI representatives on the board are Hugh Don Cripps, MD (Smithville), Alan Drake, MD (Sparta), Doug Hooper, MD (Smithville), James Spurlock, MD (Woodbury) and Ty Webb, MD (Sparta).

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Smallwood to the Board,” said Mark Medley, speaking on behalf of the Capella-UCHI Board. “His visionary leadership and collaborative approach will support our continued progress towards enhancing care for the communities we serve. He has a commitment to this partnership and to our mission of providing the highest quality of care as we expand services and access for this region.”

As the chief medical officer for Baptist Hospital, Dr. Smallwood facilitates and aligns the interests of the hospital’s leadership and medical staff in an increasingly challenging health care environment.  Since 1991, prior to assuming his new position in May, Dr. Smallwood had been a practicing OB/GYN and member of the Baptist Hospital medical staff. As the chief OB/GYN at Baptist Hospital from 2009-2011, Dr. Smallwood helped improve the departmental process for better communication and decision-making among medical staff and, as part of a team, developed various patient safety initiatives for mothers and infants that align with the Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care.

After attending medical school at the Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Smallwood completed his internship in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Medical Center and his residency, also in obstetrics and gynecology, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He began his career in private practice at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., before coming to Nashville.

About Capella-Saint Thomas Health Services
Launched on May 1, Capella-Saint Thomas Health System is a joint venture between Capella Healthcare and Saint Thomas Health that operates four hospitals in Middle Tennessee: DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville, Highlands Medical Center in Sparta, River Park Hospital in McMinnville, and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. Capella is the managing member and majority partner in the venture as well as the exclusive development partner for Saint Thomas Health across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

Based in Franklin, Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care and exceptional service. Capella owns and/or operates 15 acute care and specialty hospital facilities in seven states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, reinvesting in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities.

Saint Thomas Health is the market share leader in Middle Tennessee with 6,500 associates serving the region. Saint Thomas Health’s regional health system consists of five hospitals – Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospitals and The Hospital for Spinal Surgery in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville – and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, clinic and rehabilitation facilities. Saint Thomas Health is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.sths.com