NASHVILLE, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--HCA (NYSE:HCA), which operates 164 hospitals and 111 ambulatory surgery centers, announced today that two veteran HCA division presidents are undertaking new responsibilities.
"Steve and Mel are veteran HCA division presidents with proven track records as outstanding multi-hospital leaders"
Stephen E. Corbeil, who has been President of the companya™s Midwest Division in Kansas City since 2007, will become President of HCAa™s Nashville-based TriStar Division. He replaces Larry Kloess, whose retirement was announced earlier this month. In addition, HCA veteran and longtime Delta Division President Mel Lagarde will become President of HCAa™s newly-named MidAmerica Division, based in Kansas City. This division includes the companya™s existing Delta Division (based in New Orleans) and Midwest Division operations. HCA will maintain a market presence in the New Orleans area with certain division staff based there. These transitions will begin immediately.
aThe merger of Delta and Midwest, two of our smaller divisions, makes sense for a number of reasons,a said Paul Rutledge, President of HCAa™s Central Group. aJoining the two divisions enables us to improve efficiency while continuing to support our hospitals and creating a multi-market operating unit similar to most other HCA divisions.a
aSteve and Mel are veteran HCA division presidents with proven track records as outstanding multi-hospital leaders,a said Rutledge. aTheir familiarity with HCAa™s culture will serve them well in their new roles.a
As MidAmerica Division President, Lagarde, 54, is responsible for HCAa™s 18 hospitals and six ambulatory surgery centers in Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. A 32-year employee of HCA, Lagarde served since 1995 as President of HCAa™s Delta Division, which at one point included HCAa™s operations in Austin and Corpus Christi. Prior to that, Lagarde was Chief Operating Officer of HCAa™s Gulf Coast Division in Texas from 1994 to 1995. He also served in various hospital leadership positions at several HCA hospitals in Georgia, Virginia and Texas.
In his new role leading TriStar, Corbeil, 51, is responsible for the divisiona™s 17 hospitals and nine surgery centers in Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky, including seven facilities in HCAa™s hometown market of Middle Tennessee. Prior to returning to HCA in 2007 to become President of HCAa™s Midwest Division, Corbeil held several senior-level, multi-market leadership positions with Tenet Healthcare. Before that, he was CEO of HCAa™s Medical City Dallas Hospital from 1996 to 2000.
All references to aCompanya and aHCAa as used through this release refer to HCA Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates.