Mercy Regional Medical Center and Acadian Medical Center name new CEO

Mercy Regional Medical Center announced today that Scott M. Smith has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO) overseeing Mercy Regional’s Ville Platte campus and Acadian Medical Center campus in Eunice, effective January 1, 2014. Smith replaces Steve Selzer, who has served as interim CEO of both hospitals since Alan Daugherty’s departure this fall.
“Scott is a well established and successful leader within LifePoint,” said Robert Klein, Chief Operating Officer of LifePoint Hospitals’ Central Group, of which Mercy Regional and Acadian Medical Center are a part. “He has a proven track record of building strong relationships with his medical staff, improving core measures, HCAHPS and employee satisfaction scores, and enhancing physical spaces to enable the delivery of the highest quality healthcare possible.”
Smith joins Mercy Regional and Acadian Medical Center from Cleveland, Mississippi, where he has served as CEO of Bolivar Medical Center, another LifePoint facility, since 2011. Under Smith’s leadership, Bolivar has made significant improvement in physician satisfaction and engagement. In addition, he helped plan and secure an interior renovation project for the hospital slated to begin in March 2014.
“Scott has demonstrated success at every hospital he has led, and we are excited to welcome him to Mercy Regional and Acadian Medical Center,” said Tommy Fontenot, M.D., Chairman of the Mercy Regional Board of Trustees. “He is passionate about leading healthcare facilities in communities like ours, and I am certain he is going to be a great fit for this top leadership role.”
Before serving as CEO at Bolivar, Smith was CEO of Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi from 2010-2011. Prior to that, he was CEO of Teche Regional Medical Center, another LifePoint hospital, in nearby Morgan City from 2006-2010. Smith also served as CEO of River West Medical Center in Plaquemine, Louisiana, from 2004-2006 and associate administrator of River Region Health Systems in Vicksburg, Mississippi, from 2001-2004.
Smith earned his master’s degree in management from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, and his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University.
About Mercy Regional Medical Center
Mercy Regional Medical Center is a 109-bed acute care hospital with campuses in Eunice and Ville Platte. Formed on April 1, 2010 with the merging of Ville Platte Medical Center and Acadian Medical Center, Mercy Regional serves approximately 97,000+ patients annually with a medical staff of 200+ physicians. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the two facilities provide a comprehensive array of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services including surgery, imaging, cardiology, obstetrics, physical therapy and rehab services. Mercy Regional is one of the area’s largest employers with over 500 employees and a payroll of more than $25 million. During 2008, the facilities invested over $1.5 million in capital improvements and paid over $1.5 million in local and state taxes. A part of LifePoint Hospitals®, Mercy Regional was named for Scott Mercy; the company’s founding CEO, in tribute to his high standards and passionate pursuit of excellence. The two facilities have a common mission: “Making Communities Healthier.”
About LifePoint Hospitals
LifePoint Hospitals® is a leading hospital company focused on providing quality healthcare services close to home. Through its subsidiaries, LifePoint operates 60 hospital campuses in 20 states. With a mission of “Making Communities Healthier®,” LifePoint is the sole community hospital provider in the majority of the communities it serves. More information about the company, which is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, can be found on its Web site, www.LifePointHospitals.com. All references to “LifePoint,” “LifePoint Hospitals,” or the “Company” used in this release refer to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. or its affiliates.