COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Dr. Vance Brown on Friday announced he is stepping down as president of Bassett Medical Center (BMC), but will remain CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network (BHN).
Dr. William LeCates, who currently serves as medical director and VP of medical affairs for BMC, will also serve as deputy president of Bassett Medical Center in the interim, while a transition team works to develop a plan of succession.
In making the announcement, Brown said he has “greatly enjoyed” his work as president of BMC and noted the network’s challenges ahead.
“I will continue to serve as CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network. With the adoption of an active-parent model January 1, 2017, the breadth and depth of my current responsibilities of overseeing network operations demand my full attention so that we can successfully address the larger issues facing the organization today. I have great confidence in Dr. LeCates’ ability to lead the hospital and will be available to him as needed during the transition process,” said Brown.
As deputy president of Bassett Medical Center, LeCates’ responsibilities will include patient care, quality and safety, strategy, financial management, and recruiting.
Over the past six years as medical director for BMC, LeCates has managed physician and advanced-practice clinician credentialing and medical-staff affairs. He has also served as the physician advisor to the hospital’s quality-assurance programs, along with performance improvement and risk-management operations.
More recently, since being appointed VP of medical affairs in June of this year, LeCates has had oversight of care management and clinical excellence. It includes the areas of quality management, clinical effectiveness, infection control, risk management, accreditation, and regulatory readiness.
The Bassett organization is “deeply appreciative” of Brown’s leadership at a time when health-care facilities are under “enormous pressure” from new regulatory requirements, increased costs, and declining payments, Dr. Timothy Pedley, chairman of the Bassett Healthcare Network board of trustees, said in the news release.
“Dr. Brown’s knowledge and familiarity with the challenges facing all health care facilities, but especially those in rural areas with significant dependence on Medicaid reimbursement have provided firm and consistent guidance during challenging times. We look forward to his continued work on behalf of Bassett Healthcare Network, and the BHN board anticipates supporting the transition process for BMC under Dr. LeCates’ interim leadership in ways that will continue the strong forward progress of the entire network,” said Pedley.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
