OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 8, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital, a physician-owned hospital comprised of more than 80 physicians dedicated to improving patient outcomes, has named Jesse Saucedo as the facility's new Chief Financial Officer.

An 18-year veteran of hospital and healthcare finances, Saucedo has held a variety of healthcare administrative positions. Prior to joining Heartland, Saucedo was a Rural Health Specialist with KSF & Associates in Alpine, Texas, and was CFO of Catholic Health Initiatives in Great Bend, Kansas. He was a Senior Financial Analyst of CHRISTUS Health St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, and also CFO at CHRISTUS Health Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper, Texas.

"We're pleased to welcome Jesse to the Heartland family where he will function as an integral part of our business leadership team," said Don Burman, Chief Executive Officer at Heartland. "Jesse comes to us with an impressive resume that shows his proven experience in managing the financial and business affairs of healthcare-related facilities."

Saucedo's responsibilities in previous positions have included improving revenue cycles; developing operational and capital budgets; enhancing operations by reviewing regulations and cost reports; decreasing operating expenses; increasing cash collections; preparing new service lines; and ensuring optimum operations both financially and through patient care.

In his new role at Heartland, Saucedo will be responsible for strategic financial leadership; fiscal reporting and accounting practices; and the application of systems and operations associated with physician interaction and ownership. He will be in charge of performance benchmarking and will serve as Heartland's treasurer.

Saucedo obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Accounting from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Sul Ross State University in Texas. He has a Medical Records Coding Certificate from the Texas Medical Foundation and has been a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) since 1997.

"I look forward to working with Heartland and contributing to this great facility's mission of continuously striving to improve clinical outcomes for patients," Saucedo said. "Heartland has already defined itself as a leader in providing the highest quality of care. I am proud to work within a healthcare community where my financial experience can be utilized to benefit both our staff and patients."

About Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital

At Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital the future is here. Designed, owned and led by physicians from different specialty areas and groups throughout Kansas City, the hospital is raising the standards of patient and physician satisfaction. Since 2003, the Overland Park, Kansas hospital has grown to include more than 80 physicians who specialize in orthopedics and pediatric orthopedics; bariatric weight loss surgery; ear, nose, and throat surgery; spine surgery; neurosurgery; hand surgery; joint reconstruction; general surgery; pain management and a full spectrum of plastic surgery procedures.

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