Contact Information: Contact: Lynn Sadoff Senior Public Relations Specialist HealthEast Care System Office: (651) 326-3590 Cellular: (612) 723-8991 Pager: (651) 864-1023
Cathy Barr Named CEO of Bethesda Hospital
| Source: HealthEast
ST. PAUL, MN--(Marketwire - February 5, 2008) - Cathy Barr, formerly HealthEast Vice President
for Community Based Services and HealthEast Home Care Senior Director, has
been named CEO of Bethesda Hospital.
Bethesda Hospital, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a long-term acute
care hospital (LTACH)
that treats more than 1,200 people each year who require intensive
rehabilitation following severe injury or illness. Its mission is to help
patients managing complex medical conditions reinvent their lives as rich
and meaningful and to empower them to overcome barriers and make the most
of their abilities and talents.
Barr, a nine-year veteran of HealthEast executive leadership, previously
provided strategic guidance
in growing a variety of services that address the region's (and the
country's) changing demographics, including a need for more responsive
community based resources.
Barr's new position at Bethesda, which attracts patients from care
facilities across the country, will be responsible for a wide array of
integrated programs that treat the physical, emotional, spiritual and
social aspects of each individual. The hospital offers a full spectrum of
programs under one roof including respiratory care, geriatric behavioral
services, and rehabilitation care for patients recovering from stroke,
major multiple trauma, spinal cord injury, amputation, or neurological
diseases. It also offers services for individuals suffering from traumatic
brain injury, dementia, concussions, and Parkinson's disease.
Barr's experiences in creating programs that help patients manage chronic
diseases and her track record in helping local health care professional
organizations develop legislative priorities that positively impact patient
quality outcomes made her a natural choice for the position, according to
Ann Schrader, HealthEast COO. "Cathy is an innovator; she not only knows
how to deliver health care in a manner that makes patient care the number
one priority, but she also knows how to establish a workplace that is
vibrant and respectful."
A former nurse who understands the difference that compassionate care can
make to a patient's recovery, Barr is committed to continuing the "legacy
of excellence" she said was forged by former CEO, Frank Indihar. "Bethesda
has both a local and national reputation as the place to send patients
following a life-altering event. It's an honor to take the reins of such
an outstanding organization. As we approach our 125th anniversary, I see
our focus remaining on patient satisfaction, quality patient outcomes, and
employee engagement."
Among her top priorities, Barr is working on legislative reform to help
LTACHs establish new facility and medical requirements. She has also
opened discussions on how a facility such as Bethesda can help veterans
returning from Iraq suffering from traumatic brain injuries when military
and VA hospitals are full.
Barr holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas as well as a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing from Niagara University in New York.
HealthEast Care System is a community-focused, non-profit health care
organization that provides innovative technology, compassionate care and a
full spectrum of family health services. HealthEast includes Bethesda
Hospital, St. John's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Woodwinds Health
Campus as well as outpatient services, clinics, home care, pharmacies and
medical transportation services. Practicing financial responsibility,
HealthEast is the largest, locally-owned health care organization in the
Twin Cities' East Metro with 7,000 employees and 1,400 physicians on staff.