Health Management Creates New Chief Nursing Executive Role to Bring Nursing Perspective to Executive Discussions on Care Delivery and the Practice of Nursing

NAPLES, FLORIDA (Oct. 16, 2012)  Health Management Associates, Inc. (NYSE: HMA) announced today it has promoted Pamela Rudisill, DNP, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, FAAN,to a newly created position as Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive.

In this new role, Rudisill will develop and articulate the vision and strategic direction for the delivery of patient care and the practice of nursing at Health Management’s 70 hospitals in 15 states. Rudisill will bring a nursing perspective to the executive team’s work on clinical programs and services, including strategic planning, development, implementation and evaluation. She also will advise senior leadership on the impact of executive decisions and industry changes on the quality of patient care, the practice of nursing and on nurses.

“Nurses are the key to fulfilling our top priority – delivering high-quality, comprehensive care with a human touch to our patients,” said Gary Newsome, president and CEO of Health Management. “We created this new C-level position because we want a strong nursing perspective at the table when we discuss care delivery, quality and safety. With her experience and achievements, Pam is the perfect person to establish this new executive position for our company.”

Rudisill has worked for Health Management since 1996. For the past four years, she served as Vice President of Nursing and Patient Safety for Health Management, with responsibilities for Health Management’s Nursing Leadership Group, Patient Safety Committee and Chief Nursing Executive Council. She will retain those responsibilities in her new position.

Rudisill was Chief Nursing Executive of Health Management’s Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, N.C., from 1996 to 2007.

Rudisill also is a national leader in the nursing field. She is the immediate past President of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (“AONE”) and represents the AONE on the Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council. Rudisill also is the Nurse Executive representative on the American Hospital Association Interdisciplinary Performance Improvement Committee. Health Management’s National Nursing Leadership Council awarded Rudisill its first-ever Hummingbird Award in recognition of her role with AONE. In 2011, Rudisill was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing.

Health Management enables America’s best local health care by providing the people, processes, capital and expertise necessary for its hospital and physician partners to fulfill their local missions of delivering superior health care services. Health Management, through its subsidiaries, operates 70 hospitals with approximately 10,500 licensed beds in non-urban communities located throughout the United States.

All references to “Health Management,” “HMA” or the “Company” used in this release refer to Health Management Associates, Inc. and its affiliates.

Contact:
MaryAnn Hodge
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Health Management Associates, Inc.
(239) 598-3131