Hospital Execs take leadership roles

Redlands Community Hospital Execs take leadership roles in guiding association of 166 California hospitals

REDLANDS, CA - Redlands Community Hospital President/CEO Jim Holmes was installed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 166-member Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) at its annual meeting held on January 10 in Los Angeles. RCH is a 176 bed not-for profit hospital that serves people throughout the Inland Empire.

Founded in 1923, HASC is a non-profit trade organization that serves to provide the political, economic, informational and educational needs of its member hospitals as they collaborate to improve the quality and accessibility of health services. HASC is comprised of 166 hospitals from six counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Holmes has served on the board of HASC since 1998, holding the positions of Inland Area Representative and then as Secretary, Treasurer and Chair-Elect.

"It is truly an honor to work with the distinctive leadership of the southern California hospital members who comprise HASC," said Holmes, who has been with Redlands Community Hospital for 19 years. "In 2007, we have much work ahead of us, particularly in light of the Governor’s proposed health care reform action that was unveiled this week," he said. Recently proposed state health care reform issues and their effects on area hospitals and patients will be top agenda items for 2007.

"I see our role as strong advocates for the millions of patients we serve each year," he stressed. "Our challenges are many, as we work to improve the delivery and accessibility of health care services to the communities we serve. Health care issues today demand stringent public scrutiny and transparency. It is clearly a new era for those who dedicate their lives to improving the health and welfare of all our residents."

Before he joined the executive staff at Redlands Community Hospital, first as Chief Financial Officer and then as CEO, Holmes served as a healthcare consultant with Ernst & Whinney. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Biochemistry and Bacteriology. Holmes then spent time as a research associate at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, before continuing his education and receiving his MBA in Healthcare Finance and Accounting from Cornell University.

Redlands retired pharmacist Stan Weisser, a 25-year board and committee member at RCH, was appointed trustee representative on the HASC board. With full voting privileges, Weisser will provide a layman’s input from his years of healthcare leadership experience in the southern California region. Weisser is currently serving on the RCH board of directors and served as chairman of the board from 1991-1994 and from 1998-1999. Stan and Ellen Weisser have been major benefactors at the hospital and the new education pavilion was named in their honor in 2005.

Redlands Community Hospital, located at 350 Terracina Boulevard in Redlands, is currently completing a $47 million expansion project that will add new surgery and maternal/child services departments. For more information, call 909-335-5500, or visit the hospital’s website: www.redlandshospital.org

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