PRESS RELEASE
FCMC AND J.C. BLAIR ANNOUNCE COMBINED LEADERSHIP
Hawkins and Shughart to oversee J.C. Blair Operations
Huntingdon, PA. January 9, 2015 -- Fulton County Medical Center (FCMC) and J.C. Blair Health System today announced they have executed an agreement for a common leadership team. The agreement takes effect on January 30, 2015, and subcontractstwo FCMC leaders to J.C. Blair on a part-time basis. Both FCMC Chief Executive OfficerJason Hawkins and Chief Financial OfficerDeborah Shughartwill oversee both organizations’ operations, but each organization’s governance will remain independent.
“This agreement results from board of directors’discussionsbetween the two hospitals about creative, alternative approaches to providing regional healthcare while remaining independent. This action will create immediate administrative savings and help form strategies to improve quality and reduce costs for both FCMC and J.C Blair,” stated FCMC Board Chair William C. Dovey.
“This move is necessary to insure a regional approach to providing healthcare to Huntingdon and Fulton Counties,” said Hawkins. “It will allow for additional services,physicians, and making healthcare more affordable in our region.”
PinnacleHealth’s shared affiliation agreement with J.C. Blair will remain in place. PinnacleHealthPresident and CEO Michael A. Young is a member of J.C. Blair’s board of directors and will continue to serve in that role. In addition, Adam Dimm, who has been serving as PinnacleHealth’s director of strategic management services at J.C. Blair since the affiliation, has been named vice president of operations and will be at J.C. Blair on a full time basis. Kim Slee, MSN, RN who has been serving as chief nursing officer at FCMC, has been named vice presidentof operationsat FCMC providing a continued leadership presence.
“Shared leadership strategies are emerging across the nation in many industries,” said Young.“They are proving to be efficient ways to maximize leadership skills and experience, as well as financial resources, to promote independent success.”
“We feel this is an alternative approach to mergers because we retain our local identity with our patients,” said J.C. Blair Board Chair Frances Vaughn. “Both organizations, which are similar in size and structure, have completed some internal restructuring for continued leadership at both facilities. This new agreement allows FCMC and J.C. Blair to reap the benefits of partnering while preserving our independence and providing sustainability. We truly believe this structure will make us more effective. J.C. Blair’s board of directors would like to thank Lisa Mallon for her leadership and direction which enabled the board to explore these affiliation opportunities.”
Hawkins is a Huntingdon native. He holds a bachelor’s degreein accounting and master’s in business administration. He has spent his career in rural healthcare, with his first five years at GeisingerHealth System and last 20 years at FCMC. He has served FCMC as chief financial officer, chief operations officer and chief executive officer. Hechaired the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania’s Small RuralHealthCouncil and is currently serving the American Hospital Association’s Small and Rural Governing Council representing Pennsylvania and New York regions. He is also currently treasurer of Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance. He maintains an active working relationship with the PA Office of Rural Health. He is well-known for his ability to build strong relationships with boards and communities to create community-based healthcare, keeping healthcare in the local community.
Shughart joined FCMC in 2009. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business administrationfrom The Pennsylvania State University.Prior to joining FCMC, she worked for Highmark, AMP and IBM, and served as nursing home administrator at Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her financial leadership,coupled with her auditing and insurance background, has been instrumental in bringing financial stability to FCMC.
J.C. Blair’s President and CEO Lisa Mallon and Chief Financial Officer Ed Quinn, charged with transitioning J.C. Blair for the future, have been at J.C. Blair for three years.
About J.C. Blair Hospital
J.C. Blair Health System is the healthcare leader in Huntingdon County, serving the community’s healthcare needs and striving to deliver the best outcome for every patient for over 100 years. The Health System includes J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital, a 100-bed, non-profit community hospital; J.C. Blair Medical Services which employs over 30 primary care and specialty physicians and nurse practitioners; and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital Foundation. In May, 2014, J.C. Blair formed an affiliation with PinnacleHealth in Harrisburg. For a complete list of services, visit J.C. Blair’s website at
About the Fulton County Medical Center
The Fulton County Medical Center (FCMC) is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, which owns and operates a21-bed critical access hospital and 67-bed skilled nursing care facility. Founded in 1949, FCMC is located at 214 Peach Orchard Road, McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.FCMC has an active medical staff of nearly 100 physicians , 500 employees and sixty active volunteers. For more information visit FCMC online at
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(Photo follows release)
CONTACT: Fulton County Medical CenterCONTACT: J.C. Blair Health System, Inc.
Media:
A. Misty Hershey, 717-485-6115Christine R. Gildea, 814-643-8548
Director of Community Relations &BenefitsDirector of Marketing & Community Relations
SOURCE: Fulton County Medical CenterSOURCE: J.C. Blair Health System, Inc.
Executive Committee members of J.C. Blair Health System, Inc. and Fulton County Medical Center (FCMC) met earlier this week to sign an agreement to share leadership. Pictured are, seated, left to right: Frances V. Vaughn, J.C. Blair board chair, Deborah Shughart, FCMC chief financial officer, Jason Hawkins, FCMC president and chief executive officer, and James A. Bothell, Sr., FCMC director. Standing, left to right, are Ellen Sloan and Joe Masciangelo, J.C Blair board members, Timothy Hann, Penelope Shives and Tonya House, FCMC board members, Fred Price and Art DeCamp, J.C. Blair board members.