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Among Administrative Structure Changes at ARHS, Lacey Named President

ARHS Announced Administrative Structure Changes

March 26, 2012. Richard Sparks, President and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) has announced administrative structure changes for the healthcare system, effective April 1, 2012.

Sparksnamed Mr. Chuck Mantooth as President of Watauga Medical Center in Boone. In addition to this new responsibility, Mr. Mantooth will remain President of Appalachian Regional Medical Associates (ARMA), ARHS’ physician practice management division, and CEO of Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville.

This change aligns Watauga Medical Center, Cannon Memorial Hospital and ARMA under a new division known as “Hospital and Physician Group”. According toSparks, “The alignment of these three entities is critical for a successful implementation of the upcoming 2013-15 ARHS Strategic Plan”. 

Mantooth has served the healthcare system for over 20 years in a variety of roles, most recently as President of ARMA and President and CEO of Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville. While Mantooth will retain the role of CEO of Cannon Memorial Hospital, he will welcome Avery County native Carmen Lacey, MSN, RN, in as President of Cannon Memorial Hospital. Ms. Lacey has worked in healthcare in Avery County for over 25 years. Her first role was as a staff nurse at Sloop Memorial Hospital and she has filled various leadership roles at Cannon Memorial Hospital over the years, most recently serving as Director of Patient Care Services.

Additional changes to the administrative structure include Tim Ford, President & CEO of Blowing Rock Hospital taking on additional duties as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, which will focus on Government Relations, Legal Services, Corporate Compliance and Planning.

Claire Cline, MPH, RN, Senior Vice President Patient Care Services, who manages the majority of inpatient services for ARHS, will take on additional duties of management of the ARHS Pharmacy. Kim Bianca, MSN, RN, Senior Vice President of Clinical & Outpatient Service Lines will enhance her management of ARHS service lines by adding Lab and Imaging to her division.

“These organizational changes will better position ARHS’ Senior Leadership Team to address current issues and move the healthcare system into the future,”Sparkswent on to state.

To learn more about Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, visit www.apprhs.org.

Lacey Named as President of Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital

March 26, 2012. Richard Sparks, President and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) announced the promotion of Carmen Lacey, MSN, RN to President of Cannon Memorial Hospital, effective April 1, 2012.

Chuck Mantooth has served as President and CEO of Cannon Memorial Hospital since 2006. Mantooth will remain in the role of CEO of Cannon. In addition, Mantooth becomes the President of Watauga Medical Center in Boone, taking on additional management roles within ARHS. 

WataugaMedicalCenter, Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital, Blowing Rock Hospital and Appalachian Regional Medical Associates are all managed by the parent Corporation of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, headquartered in Boone, NC.

Mr. Sparks’ decision to promote Carmen Lacey to President of Cannon Memorial came about because of her tenure with the healthcare entities inAveryCounty, as well as, her excellent leadership, clinical, and management skills.

“I have the utmost confidence in Carmen’s ability to lead Cannon Memorial Hospital. As with most small hospitals in theUnited States, Cannon has experienced many changes over the past decade. With each change, Carmen developed remarkable resilience, but has always remained true to her core beliefs in making life better for this community. Carmen’s strong character, leadership qualities, compassion for our patients and belief in her staff put her in a position to succeed”, stated Chuck Mantooth, CEO Cannon Memorial Hospital.

Carmen was born in Avery County and grew up in the Jonas Ridge Community of Burke County. She began her healthcare career as a staff nurse at Sloop Memorial Hospital in 1987 after completing her Associates Degree in Nursing from Western Piedmont Community College. Lacey went on to further her education by completing a BSN fromWinston-Salem State University and a MSN from Gardner-Webb University. Lacey also holds a Certificate in Nursing Administration from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Carmen worked in several roles at Sloop Memorial Hospital until its merger with Cannon Memorial in 1999. At that point, she became the Director of the Medical/Surgical Unit, Restorative Care and theNewLifeCenter. She has had duties in almost every area of clinical operations at Cannon Memorial Hospital over the past twelve years; most recently as the Director of Patient Care Services for the facility.

“I am excited about this new role and thankful for the confidence Richard Sparks and Chuck Mantooth have placed in me. In addition, I am forever indebted to the many nurses I have worked with over the years who have helped shape my nursing career and management style. I owe special thanks to Eula Johnson, RN and Pam Jameson, RN for taking me under their wings and growing me as a nurse”, stated Lacey.

Carmen Lacey lives in Linville with her husband, Mike. She has three children, Melynda Henderson, who is a Physical Therapist, Laura Lacey who will begin her 1st year ofPharmacySchoolat UNC-CH this fall and Taylor Lacey who is completing her second year at UNC-CH.

For more information about Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital, visit www.apprhs.org.

Press releases by ARHS