Pen Bay Healthcare Announces New CEO

Current CEO Roy Hitchings Retires

Pen Bay Healthcare announces the selection of Wade C. Johnson, MS, MBA, FACHE, as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Johnson brings 19 years of experience in healthcare and business, most recently as Chief Executive Officer at Weiser Memorial Hospital in Idaho, where he made year-over-year improvements on all hospital-wide quality indicators, including patient safety. Johnson also improved hospital finances in just one year and increased patient satisfaction scores from the 59th percentile to the 90th percentile. Weiser Memorial is an affiliate of St. Luke’s Health System.

Prior to his work in Idaho, Johnson was Administrative Director at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania, and Director of Program Development/Perioperative Business Manager for Providence Medford Medical Center in Medford, Oregon.

Johnson looks forward to continuing his career in healthcare and emphasizes his passion for quality and working with people. “I am driven by quality and by putting the patient first in all we do. I also feel a very strong obligation to employees, their satisfaction, and building organizational pride,” he says. “I actively seek out their input and engagement in all processes and champion efforts for employee growth and development.” Johnson will be relocating with his wife, Stephi, and their four children to the Knox County area and will begin his new position in February 2012.

Johnson will replace Roy Hitchings, who served Pen Bay for more than 13 years as CEO. Hitchings announced his retirement in April and will leave Pen Bay in February.

Joel Lafleur, MD, Chair of the Pen Bay Healthcare Board of Trustees, says: “We are confident we have chosen the right person for the job. Wade Johnson brings a wealth of experience in both business and healthcare that will be invaluable to the Pen Bay community.”

Greg Dufour, CEO, Camden National Bank, member of the Pen Bay Healthcare Board of Trustees and Chair of the CEO Search Committee says: “It was a thorough, inclusive selection process which involved the Board of Trustees and the medical staff, as well as valuable input from members of the community. I’m certain Mr. Johnson’s experience and dedication will meet the needs of Pen Bay Healthcare and the Midcoast community, and I look forward to his service.”

Adds Lafleur, “Roy Hitchings will be missed, and we value all he has done for Pen Bay over the years. I know I can speak for the entire Board of Trustees as we thank Roy Hitchings for more than 13 years of devoted service and wish him well in his retirement.”