Mercy names director of operations
02 / 01 / 2008
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
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(920) 554-0686 (pager)
OSHKOSH, Wis. – Charles Nickerson, who had been the manager of Respiratory Care Services and Sleep Disorders Center for The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, Maine, has been named director of Operations for Mercy Medical Center.
In this new role, Nickerson is responsible for the leadership of all radiology and imaging-related services, pharmacy, laboratory, rehabilitation, environmental and nutritional services.
Nickerson, with 11 years of health care leadership, began his duties at Mercy Jan. 30.
Since June 2006, Nickerson has been responsible for the departmental leadership of a 19-bed unit providing outpatient surgical services at The Aroostook Medical Center, as well as Respiratory Care Services and the Sleep Disorders Center. The Aroostook Medical Center is comprised of the 89-bed AR Gould Memorial Hospital, 16-bed psychiatric unit of Community General Hospital and the 72-resident long term care and skilled nursing services of Aroostook Health Center.
In conjunction with leading the Day Surgery unit, Nickerson has been manager of Respiratory Care Services at The Arostook Medical Center since 1996.
“I knew Charlie well through my work with the American College of Healthcare Executives,” said William Calhoun, president of Mercy Medical Center. “Together, he and I worked on a number of key objectives for The Aroostook Medical Center. I admire his enthusiasm and energy, and his deep commitment for the patients he's served. He'll be a terrific addition to the staff, and leadership team of Mercy Medical Center.”
“Mercy Medical Center and Affinity Health System truly is made up of talented and caring health care professionals who are focused on providing an excellent health care experience, including superior clinical quality, a culture of compassion and a desire to make a difference in their patient’s lives,” Nickerson said. “I am excited to become a member of the Mercy family.”
Nickerson began his health care career in 1987 as a licensed practical nurse at The Aroostook Medical Center. He also worked as a respiratory therapy technician/therapist and supervisor of Respiratory Care.
Nickerson received his bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management and his master’s degree in Business Administration from the American Intercontinental University, Hoffman Estates, Ill. He also is a Healthcare Leadership Academy graduate from The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C.
He is a member of the American Association of Respiratory Care, and of the American College of Healthcare Executives. While in Maine, he was a member of the Presque Isle Kiwanis.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.