Andalusia Regional Hospital (ARH) announced Friday that Rebecca Brewer has been appointed its chief executive officer (CEO). Brewer has served as interim CEO of the hospital since August 1.

Brewer said she is excited about the opportunity.

“My first impression of Andalusia was that it was a good fit for me,” Brewer said. “Andalusia is very similar to a community I worked and lived in for 19 years. And the people are tremendous – warm and accepting.”

In the two months she’s served as interim administrator, Brewer has already identified opportunities for the hospital, and has begun to work with groups to determine what they seek from the health care community locally.

“I think there is a solid opportunity to increase our community’s confidence in Andalusia Regional Hospital, and keep our residents at home for care,” Brewton said. “We have the talent and technology to support them.

“How will we mitigate the tendency for our community to drive out of town for care? The answer is: I plan to engage the community in helping me learn what physicians we need to recruit, what services we need to strengthen or add, and how the community wants care/services delivered.

“I already have 12 active women in our community who have agreed to serve on an advisory committee to give me guidance, and I plan to have our board and medical community intimately involved in the same activities,” she said. “I have met strong and energetic leaders in the community and I am confident that by working together we will make our beautiful town of Andalusia healthier and a great place to work and raise our families.”

Brewer said she also will put attention to how the hospital and campus looks, how easily patients can access services and how well the hospital manages the patient’s experience.

“Rebecca has an extensive background in healthcare management and has proven herself an asset to Andalusia Regional Hospital since she began serving as interim CEO in August,” said Don Bivacca, president of the National Division of LifePoint Hospitals, of which ARH is a part. “We are fortunate to have her assume the hospital’s top leadership post on a permanent basis.”

Brewer brings more than 30 years of healthcare management experience to ARH. Most recently, she served as interim CEO of Lander Regional Hospital in Lander, Wy. – another LifePoint facility – for seven months and as interim vice president for surgical services at Oakhill Hospital in Brooksville, Fla., for six months. Previously, Brewer was CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center in St. Cloud, Fla., where her focus was building culture and developing strong, multi-disciplinary clinical teams.

“During Rebecca’s tenure as interim CEO, a selection committee representing a cross section of our hospital and board of trustees engaged in an extensive national search to find a permanent CEO for ARH,” said Terry Powell, chairman of the ARH Board of Trustees. “It became quickly apparent that Rebecca was the strongest, most qualified candidate for the position. We are very excited to have her continue to lead our hospital.”

 

Brewer holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina. She is Board Certified and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.