Richard Hammett Named President & CEO of Swedish Medical Center

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Jul 14, 2015, 08:30 ET

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthONE's Swedish Medical Center is pleased to announce Richard Hammett has been named the new President and CEO effective Monday, Aug. 3. Hammett will transition from his current role as President and CEO at The Medical Center of Aurora (TMCA) to Swedish Medical Center, HealthONE's only Level 1 Trauma Center and Trauma Research Program. "Swedish has some of the most advanced medical programs in the nation and these areas of expertise draw patients from all over the state, the region and even the world," said Hammett. "To work with the physicians and staff at such a renowned medical facility is not only exciting, it is an honor."

Richard Hammett, President and CEO of Swedish Medical Center

The 368-bed hospital has 2,000 employees, over 1,300 physicians, and cares for over 200,000 patients annually. A winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award for more than a decade, Swedish is also a Top 100 Hospital recognized by Reuters.

As Colorado's leader in neurosciences, Swedish was the first Joint Commission Accredited Primary Stroke Center, the first Comprehensive Stroke Center in the region and developed the first multi-state telemedicine program for stroke. Additionally, Swedish is the region's most accredited center for cardiac care. Hammett's arrival at Swedish will coincide with the new neurosciences facility to be finished in 2016.

Swedish also became the first Level 1 Trauma Center in Colorado to open a burn center earlier this month. The Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Colorado at Swedish Medical Center has a dedicated burn Critical Care Unit that specializes in burn care for patients of any age.

"Part of what makes Swedish such a unique facility is momentum," said Hammett. "Always innovating, adding services and improving quality patient care is expected from a medical center with such a rich history in the community for more than 100 years. As the President and CEO I will continue to drive that momentum, identify and build programs that serve the needs of our city and region."

Hammett is well-versed in leading successful hospitals. Since Hammett's arrival at TMCA in 2012, the four-campus, ANCC Magnet designated, Level 2 Trauma Center was named a Top Performer for Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission for the first time in its history. TMCA also experienced significant growth of emergency services, cardiovascular services, behavioral health; and is currently expanding surgery capacity to meet patient demand. Prior to TMCA, Hammett served as the Chief Operating Officer/Interim Chief Executive Officer of St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas for five years. There he led development of the internationally recognized Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, a neurosciences center, as well as major facility expansion and renovation projects.

HealthONE's CEO, Sylvia Young, said Hammett's success at TMCA has prepared him for his new role at Swedish. "This new position for Richard is a reflection of the results he has achieved at TMCA since arriving in 2012, leading the hospital to significant quality achievements and expansion of services and facilities," said Young.

An active member in the community, Hammett serves on Colorado Hospital Association's Board of Directors and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Hammett has a Master's in both Business Administration and Health Administration and received his Bachelors from the University of Alabama. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters and one son. Richard enjoys his family, running, snowboarding and almost anything else involving the outdoors.

Hammett will be taking the place of Mary M. White who served as President and CEO of Swedish Medical Center for 20 years and worked within HealthONE for 35 years. It has been under White's leadership that Swedish has seen extensive expansion of services and facilities, including its Level 1 Trauma Center and Trauma Research Program.

About Swedish
Swedish Medical Center serves as the Rocky Mountain Region's referral center for neurotrauma and as the region's first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, a recognized leader in the most advanced stroke care. An acute care hospital with 368 licensed beds. Swedish is located in the south metro Denver area. Annually, Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of 2,000 dedicated employees, 500 volunteers and more than 1,300 physicians.

About HealthONE
HealthONE is the largest healthcare system in the metro Denver area with more than 10,000 employees. As part of the HealthONE family, The Medical Center of Aurora, North Suburban Medical Center, Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Rose Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital work together to provide a higher level of care. In addition, our family of services includes five hospital free-standing emergency departments and numerous ambulatory surgery centers, occupational medicine clinics, physician practices, imaging centers, and AIRLIFE-DENVER, which provides critical care air and ground transportation across a 10-state region.

Media Contact:
Nicole Williams
801-916-9746

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SOURCE Swedish Medical Center