Prime Healthcare Names CEO for Kansas City Region

Prime Healthcare has named Steven D. Wilkinson, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer for the Kansas City Region which includes Providence Medical Center, Kansas City KS; Saint John Hospital, Leavenworth, KS; St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO; and St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs, MO. Prime Healthcare, based in Ontario, CA, is a nationally-recognized health system with 45 hospitals in 14 states.

In his new role, Wilkinson will lead the strategic direction and operations for the four hospitals and 31 physician practices and clinics in the Missouri-Kansas Region for Prime Healthcare. The day-to-day operations at each hospital will be continue to be directed by Karen Orr, Administrator (Providence Medical Center); Jodi Fincher, Administrator (St. Joseph Medical Center); Deb Ohnoutka, CEO (St. Mary’s Medical Center) and Paula Ellis, Administrator/CNO (Saint John Hospital).

“We are confident that Steve is the right leader at the right time, and he has demonstrated a deep commitment to achieving success,” said Luis Leon, President of Operations, Prime Healthcare Division II. “His capabilities and experience, combined with our current leadership, will help us grow to better serve the communities in our Kansas and Missouri Region today and well into the future,”

Wilkinson has more than 30 years of health care leadership experience and has always been an active member of the community, giving back through his time and talents. “I am honored to join Prime Healthcare and serve as the Kansas City Regional CEO,” said Steve Wilkinson. “Prime has four excellent hospitals in the Kansas City area, and I look forward to working closely with the leaders, physicians, nurses, volunteers, and employees to continue providing high quality healthcare to all members of the community.”

Prior to joining Prime Healthcare, Wilkinson served as the CEO of Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas, a position he held since 1997. Prior to joining Menorah

Medical Center, Wilkinson held positions as a Regional Executive for the American Hospital Association, and as President & CEO of St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas for 10 years.

Additional professional and community roles include serving as Past President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council and Past Chairman of the board of the Kansas Hospital Association, where he also served on the board. In November 2012, Wilkinson received the Charles S. Billings Award, the highest recognition given by the Kansas Hospital Association, for his leadership and accomplishments in the health care industry.

Wilkinson, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, received a Master’s of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University.

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About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation:

Prime Healthcare is an award-winning national hospital system with 45 acute care hospitals providing nearly 45,000 jobs in 14 states. Fifteen of the hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity with a mission of providing quality, compassionate healthcare for all. Based in California and one of the largest hospital systems in the country, Prime Healthcare and its hospitals have been recognized as among the “100 Top Hospitals” in the nation 42 times and among the “15 Top Health Systems” three times, and Prime Healthcare is the only "Top 10 Health System" west of the Mississippi. For more information, please visit www.primehealthcare.com.