Dan F. Ausman named Methodist Hospital President and CEO

Dan F. Ausman named Methodist Hospital President and CEO
ARCADIA (July 28, 2011) –Methodist Hospital announced today the appointment of Arizona health care executive Dan F. Ausman as president and chief executive officer. Ausman is scheduled to begin August 29.
“Dan’s appointment as president and CEO of Methodist Hospital assures that the mission and values of Methodist Hospital will continue. He is an extremely talented leader with exceptional credentials and experience,” said Michael Hoover, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors. “Under Dan’s leadership, we can be certain that Methodist Hospital will continue to focus on exceptional patient experiences and meeting the needs of our community. I am excited to welcome Dan and to have his leadership for The Next Generation of Care.”
Current CEO Dennis Lee announced his retirement plans earlier this year.
“Methodist Hospital is indeed fortunate to have attracted someone as experienced and accomplished as Dan Ausman to be its president and CEO,” Lee said. “Many of the significant strategic challenges Methodist Hospital will face in the next several years are areas where Dan has had experience. His leadership values align closely with those of Methodist Hospital and his advanced business acumen will help the hospital continue to thrive in the future.”
Ausman was previously with Abrazo Health Care in Phoenix, Ariz., where he was president from 2006 until 2011. The second largest health care system in Arizona, Abrazo has net revenues of $1.5 billion, with 5,000 employees, 3,000 affiliated physicians, six acute-care hospitals totaling 1,060 beds and two health plans.
“I am excited to be joining Methodist Hospital as its new president and CEO and look forward to building upon the great history and culture of this excellent organization,” Ausman said.
According to a 2008 Phoenix Business Journal article, Ausman defines success as “patient safety and clinical outcomes.” He believes an effective business leader shows passion, honesty and vision. And he says his most effective communication skill is “the ability to articulate vision and inspire.”
That certainly seems to have worked for him in his last position. In the last four fiscal years with Ausman at the helm, Abrazo negotiated strategic alliances with three large medical groups, improved employee, physician and patient satisfaction, and significantly reduced the nurse turnover rate.
Under Ausman’s administration, Abrazo’s hospitals achieved satisfaction scores, as measured by Press Ganey, above 80 percent for inpatient, 90 percent for outpatient and 80 percent for emergency room.
Before assuming the top post at Abrazo, Ausman served as vice president of operations and president of California operations for Vanguard Health System, Abrazo’s parent company. In that role, Ausman managed three acute care hospitals, with 491 beds in Irvine, Calif.
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He served as president and CEO for Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center, a 176-bed facility owned by Tenet Healthcare. He also has held positions as CEO for Monterey Park Hospital in Monterey Park; executive vice president for Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles; and CEO for Women’s Medical Center in Seminole, Fla.
Ausman received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California’s Health Services Administration graduate program. He has more than 30 years of healthcare administration experience focusing on strategic development, financial success, cultural awareness and change, and quality of care. In 1998 and again in 2002, Ausman was awarded the Tenet Circle of Excellence Award by Tenet Healthcare and was recognized for performing at high levels in the areas of quality, service and operations.
He has served on the board of directors for the Phoenix chapter of the American Heart Association, along with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. He also was an honorary board member for The Wellness Community.
Ausman has two adult sons who live in San Diego. He and his wife, Carolyn, will relocate from Arizona to Southern California.
About Methodist Hospital
Founded in 1903, Methodist Hospital is a 460-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving Arcadia and surrounding communities. Services include comprehensive acute care such as medical, surgical, perinatal, pediatrics, oncology, intensive care (neonatal and adult) and complete cardiovascular services, including open-heart surgery. Methodist Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s main standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. For more information, visit www.methodisthospital.org.
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DAN F. AUSMAN
NEW METHODIST HOSPITAL
PRESIDENT AND CEO

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