HICKORY, NC – April 27, 2017 – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) announced today the appointment
of Eddie Beard as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). Beard will assume the role upon the retirement of J. Anthony
“Tony” Rose at the end of 2017.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of the Board’s
5-year CEO succession plan implemented to best navigate CVMC through the
continuing challenges of healthcare transformation,” said Ron Lindler,
CVMC Board of Trustees Chair. “In his current role of Chief Operating
Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, Eddie has collaborated closely with
the Board, physician leaders and senior leadership team to develop a strategic
plan and budget to support CVMC’s successful future and a smooth
transition upon Tony’s planned departure. Eddie has the confidence
of the entire organization and a proven track record of building upon
the momentum we have in serving patients across the multi-county service
area.”
A Historic Legacy of Growth and Expansion
Rose, the third CEO in CVMC’s history, leaves a rich legacy of significant
milestones addressing specific community health concerns. His tenure has
seen the transformation of the county-owned hospital originally known
as Catawba Memorial Hospital from a hospital-centric organization to a
unified healthcare system that is based on patient-centered care anchored
by key essential services located throughout the community. When Rose
became CEO in 1993, the hospital served 54,846 patients a year with 900
employees. Now, CVMC is one of the largest employers in the areas with
a staff of 1,900 that last year served 80,201 patients at the hospital
and another 194,262 throughout its network of primary care and specialty
practices – Catawba Valley Medical Group (CVMG). The medical group
and the hospital have grown to include 15 primary care practices, two
urgent care offices, and specialty care practices for cardiology, infectious
disease, pulmonology, psychiatric services, maternity services and vascular
care. In 2012, CVMC opened a $34 million 5-story patient pavilion that
is home to the Center for Women and Children and the area’s only
Level-III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Also located in the pavilion are
the Comprehensive Cancer Center’s inpatient unit and infusion therapy
services. Additionally, Rose has consistently championed numerous community
outreach programs and secured funding for initiatives such as school nurses,
mobile cancer screenings, support groups and wellness education.
“It has been a privilege to work with the many caregivers and staff
of CVMC over the past 24 years,” Rose said. “Together we have
accomplished notable improvements in patient care and I can’t think
of a better person than Eddie Beard to take this organization to the next
level. He is a visionary and a supremely talented leader with a strong
commitment to our not-for-profit mission. I look forward to following
the organization’s continued success in the years to come.”
A Vision for Innovation and Success
Beard holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lenoir Rhyne University;
a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive
Leadership from American Sentinel University in Denver, Colorado. He has
held numerous state and national offices in professional organizations
and presently holds national professional certifications as a Fellow of
the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and as a Nurse Executive
– Advanced (NEA) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Beard is also actively involved in the local community, currently serving
on the boards of Lenoir Rhyne University Business Council, Catawba County
Chamber of Commerce, Catawba County United Way and PACE at Home. In 2014,
Beard was honored to receive the Lenoir Rhyne University Presidential
Community Service Award and ALFA’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Legacy Award.
Barbara Beatty, CVMC Trustee and Catawba County Commissioner adds, “This
hospital is a great asset to the community and consistent executive leadership
has been key to its success during Tony’s tenure. Today’s
announcement bodes well for CVMC’s ability to continue meeting the
medical needs of our community with continuity in a senior management
team not common within most hospital organizations today.”
“I have been fortunate to work alongside Tony Rose for decades now
and embrace the opportunity to continue the progress we’ve made
steering the organization in the right direction,” said Beard. “From
the hospital and the outpatient practices, to the network of physicians
and major service lines, I am dedicated to providing the community we
serve access to the highest possible standards of care and appreciate
the confidence shown in me by Tony, the Board, and all our colleagues.”
ABOUT CATAWBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Hickory, NC, is the region’s
largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system serving the community
without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual well-being in addition to serving as a
center for health education, wellness, preventive medicine and acute care.
CVMC received a fourth consecutive Magnet designation from the American
Nurses Credentialing Center in 2014 and is accredited by the American
College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. WomenCertified® has recognized CVMC with Women’s Choice Awards for America’s
Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience for six consecutive years, 2012-2016;
Best Hospital for Patient Experience in Obstetrics in 2013-2017; America’s
Best Hospitals in Orthopedics in 2013-2016; America’s Best Hospitals
for Bariatrics, 2016; and America’s Best Hospitals in Cancer Care
in 2014 & 2017. CVMC received the 2013, 2014 & 2016 Premier Inc. QUEST® Award for High-Value Healthcare recognizing its reduction in harm, mortality,
readmissions and costs and improvements in metrics for patient experience
and evidence-based care. For more information, please visit
http://www.catawbavalleymedical.org.