Just weeks before Methodist Hospital unveils its grand new five-story patient tower to the public, Dan F. Ausman will officially take over the Arcadia facility from retiring president and CEO Dennis Lee.
New Methodist Hospital President & CEO Dan Ausman
The hospital has announced the appointment of Ausman, an Arizona health care executive, as president and chief executive officer effective August 29.
“Dan’s appointment as president and CEO of Methodist Hospital assures that the mission and values of Methodist Hospital will continue,” said Michael Hoover, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors. “He is an extremely talented leader with exceptional credentials and experience. Under Dan’s leadership, we can be certain that Methodist Hospital will continue to focus on exceptional patient experiences and meeting the needs of our community. I am excited to welcome Dan and to have his leadership for The Next Generation of Care.”
Ausman has two adult sons who live in San Diego. He and his wife, Carolyn, will relocate from Arizona to Southern California. Lee announced his retirement earlier this year after 20 years at the hospital, the last 17 as president and CEO. Ironically, he and his wife Carolyn will be swapping states with Lee’s successor as they move to Arizona.
“Methodist Hospital is indeed fortunate to have attracted someone as experienced and accomplished as Dan Ausman to be its president and CEO,” Lee said. “Many of the significant strategic challenges Methodist Hospital will face in the next several years are areas where Dan has had experience. His leadership values align closely with those of Methodist Hospital and his advanced business acumen will help the hospital continue to thrive in the future.”
Ausman was previously with Abrazo Health Care in Phoenix, Ariz., where he was president from 2006 until 2011. The second largest health care system in Arizona, Abrazo has net revenues of $1.5 billion, with 5,000 employees, 3,000 affiliated physicians, six acute-care hospitals totaling 1,060 beds and two health plans.
“I am excited to be joining Methodist Hospital as its new president and CEO and look forward to building upon the great history and culture of this excellent organization,” Ausman said. Methodist Hospital, now a 460-bed facility, was founded as a two-story five-bed hospital in a house in Los Angeles in 1903, the same year that Arcadia was incorporated as a City. The first patient was a Chinese woman. Methodist moved to its current location in Arcadia in 1957 when it opened a $3 million, 138-bed facility on the 22-acre campus in the Arcadia civic center.
In the last four fiscal years with Ausman at the helm, Abrazo negotiated strategic alliances with three large medical groups, improved employee, physician and patient satisfaction, and significantly reduced the nurse turnover rate. Under Ausman’s administration, Abrazo’s hospitals achieved satisfaction scores, as measured by Press Ganey, above 80% for inpatient, 90% for outpatient and 80% for emergency room.
Before assuming the top post at Abrazo, Ausman served as vice president of operations and president of California operations for Abrazo’s parent company, Vanguard Health System in Irvine, Calif. In that role, Ausman managed three acute care hospitals, with a total of 491 beds. He served as president and CEO for Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center, a 176-bed facility owned by Tenet Healthcare. He also has held positions as CEO for Monterey Park Hospital in Monterey Park; executive vice president for Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles; and CEO for Women’s Medical Center in Seminole, Florida.
Ausman received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California’s Health Services Administration graduate program. He has more than 30 years of healthcare administration experience focusing on strategic development, financial success, cultural awareness and change, and quality of care. In 1998 and again in 2002, Ausman was awarded the Tenet Circle of Excellence Award by Tenet Healthcare and was recognized for performing at high levels in the areas of quality, service and operations.
He has served on the board of directors for the Phoenix chapter of the American Heart Association, along with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. He also was an honorary board member for The Wellness Community.
— By Scott Hettrick