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SYLVA/WAYNESVILLE -- MedWest Health System CEO Mike Poore announced the senior administrative team who will lead the organization serving Western North Carolina with facilities in Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties.

MedWest links Harris Regional Hospital, Swain County Hospital and Haywood Regional Medical Center under a management agreement with Carolinas Healthcare System that became effective January 1, 2010.

Mr. Poore was named CEO for MedWest after serving as chief executive officer for Haywood Regional Medical Center since October 2008. Mr. Poore came to the Western North Carolina after serving as senior vice president and administrator for Wellstar Douglas and Wellstar Paulding hospitals and the Paulding Nursing Facility in Atlanta, Ga.

Dwayne Hooks will serve as Chief Clinical Officer. He has been vice president of clinical operations/chief nursing officer at Haywood Regional since October 2008. His experience includes neonatal intensive care nursing, executive director of assisted living facilities and top positions in clinical administration.

Teresa Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer, has served as vice president of operations at Haywood Regional Medical Center since January 2009. Prior to that appointment she served as interim director of nursing informatics at Haywood Regional from September 2008 and was named interim vice president in October 2008. She has a 31-year career in nursing administration.

Janet Millsaps, Vice President of Human Resources, has been with WestCare for the past 15 years. She has served as Director of Human Resources and Vice President of Staff Services.

W. Gene Winters, Chief Financial Officer, has served as CFO of Haywood Regional Medical Center since October 2008. Over his career he has founded, developed, and served as the chief financial officer of three national healthcare chains.

Steve Heatherly, Vice President/Chief Strategist Ambulatory Services, has been Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of WestCare Health System since 2007. Prior to that position, he served as the CEO of a neurological practice. He also worked at WestCare from 1997 to 2005 serving during that time as Director of Practice Management, Controller and CFO.

Luanna Easton, Vice President of Quality, has been with WestCare for almost 25 years, starting in radiology. She is currently Vice President of Performance Improvement, responsible for the system’s quality measures.

Ronnie Sloan, Vice President of Support Services/Swain County Hospital Administrator, has been with WestCare for almost 19 years. During his tenure he has served as a respiratory therapist, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services, Director of Radiology, and Vice President.

"This group of individual brings a vast array of experience and healthcare knowledge to our organization. I feel confident that they have the tools needed to lead the organization into the future," states Mr. Poore.

Haywood Regional Medical Center and WestCare Health System began discussions of a possible relationship nearly two years ago, aiming to increase patient access to quality healthcare, improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of healthcare to patients in Western North Carolina by joining a larger healthcare system.

A joint study committee from Haywood Regional and WestCare Health System announced Carolinas Healthcare System in April 2009 as the chosen partner for affiliation. Benefits resulting from affiliation include group purchasing, access to vital infrastructure and specialized resources, integration of medical staffs, physician recruitment and retention and other economies of scale.

MedWest has a combined medical staff of nearly 200 physicians and 1900 total employees.

Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org) is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas, with 32 affiliated hospitals in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The governing board of MedWest Health System voted Tuesday to accept Carolinas HealthCare System’s recommendation and appoint Mike Poore as the chief executive officer for the affiliated hospitals of Haywood Regional Medical Center, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain County Hospital.  The system will enter into a management agreement with Carolinas HealthCare System beginning in January, 2010.

Poore, who was hired as CEO of Haywood Regional Medical Center in October 2008, will assume the new position effective January 1, 2010.

“I’m excited about the challenges of bringing these two organizations together to better serve all of our communities.  By integrating the resources of WestCare, Haywood Regional and Carolinas HealthCare System we will greatly enhance the healthcare of our region,” states Mr. Poore.

“The new MedWest CEO will be very busy over the next few months working with the new organization and with Carolinas HealthCare System to develop a management action plan to be presented to the MedWest board.  The transitional process will take approximately six months,” said Mark Clasby, chairman of the MedWest board.

Fred Alexander, board vice chairman, stated, “Mike Poore has the experience and expertise to lead this system as it grows and enhances healthcare in the area.  He has the full backing and support of the board and we look forward to the work that needs to be done.”

“I would like to congratulate Mike Poore on his appointment to CEO of MedWest Health System. This system, with support of Carolinas HealthCare System, will ensure that quality healthcare continues to be delivered to the citizens of Western North Carolina for years to come.  I am very proud of our strong, capable and compassionate WestCare staff and know they will remain committed to providing excellent patient care. I would ask the WestCare staff to give Mike the same level of commitment and dedication they have always provided.”

The MedWest Board of Directors is made up of 14 members and has equal representation from both Haywood Regional Hospital and Harris Regional and Swain County Hospitals. Two physicians each from Haywood and WestCare will also serve on the board of directors.

Poore served as senior vice president and administrator for Wellstar Douglas and Wellstar Paulding hospitals and the Paulding Nursing Facility in Atlanta, Ga., from 2007 to 2008; and as vice president and administrator for Douglas Hospital from 2004 to 2007. He served as the administrative director of ancillary services and vice president of operations at DePaul Medical Center from 1998 to 2004.  Prior to that he was an administrator of support services at Erlanger Health Systems and was an administrator at Stewart Webster Hospital in Richland, Ga.

“An organization will flourish when you develop ownership and pride among employees.  I believe in giving employees the tools needed to do their job, removing any barriers, and then getting out of the way and letting them do their job,” Poore said.

He is originally from Mobile, Al. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration at Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of South Alabama.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.  He and his wife, Penny, have two sons and one daughter.

“I would like to thank the MedWest board for their hard work to ensure a strong system that can offer better service to all communities served by the newly integrated network,” said Michael C. Tarwater, CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System.  “CHS looks forward to being actively involved in those communities, and responsive to community needs, once the new management agreement has taken effect.”

Mr. Clasby said the MedWest board’s goal is for the management agreement to become effective in January.  The management services agreement will help to ensure access to broader resources, including sharing best practices in areas such as financial management, staff recruiting, safety and quality improvement, he said.

Haywood Regional Medical Center (www.haymed.org) was established in 1927. The current facility opened in 1979 and is licensed for 170 acute care beds. It is the third largest employer in Haywood County with more than 900 employees.

WestCare Health System (www.westcare.org) was formed in February 1997 when Harris Regional Hospital and Swain County Hospital combined to develop a full spectrum of health services. WestCare employs almost 1,200 full and part time employees and has a medical staff of more than 90 physicians representing 22 specialties.

Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org) is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas, with 29 affiliated hospitals in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Effective Wednesday, September 30, WestCare Health System will be restricting visitation. Anyone 18 years old and younger will not be allowed to visit patients at Harris Regional Hospital and Swain County Hospital. These proactive steps will help reduce the spread of both seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu in our area and help protect our patients and staff.

This restriction is due to the heightened susceptibility of this age group to contract and transmit the virus due to the number of people they come into contact with on a daily basis. This restriction is limited to inpatient care areas only.

These measures are being put into place as an extension of what has already been implemented at both hospitals such as handwashing stations at the entrances and masks available at the reception areas.

If you have any question call 828-586-7432 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .