HCA Midwest Health
December 02, 2013

Sarah Richardson, Chief Information Officer

Sarah Richardson, Chief Information Officer, HCA Midwest Health System, has been named as a KC Business Magazine Rising Star. Richardson’s profile will be listed with those of other Rising Stars in the February 2014 issue of KC Business Magazine.

HCA Midwest Health System is Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider and private sector employer.

Since 2010, Richardson has led a 193-person, $41 million annual budget organization while serving as Chief Information Officer for HCA Midwest Health System.  In that role she has helped HCA Midwest Health System attain technology-enabled Stage 1 Meaningful Use Attestation, including 14 MU criteria-driven objective measures. Project delivery capacity also expanded by six percent over a 14-month period, for a 90+ project portfolio through Management Office implementation due to Richardson’s efforts.

“Sarah Richardson is a true asset to HCA Midwest Health System,” says M.L. Lagarde, President, HCA Midwest Health System. “Her strong work ethic coupled with passionate delivery makes her a highly valuable and respected employee.”

Eight years after she began working with HCA Midwest Health System, Richardson’s designation as a Rising Star is another indication of achievements. Her previous awards have included recognition among 25 Women Who Mean Business by the Kansas City Business Journal last summer; Toastmasters International Distinguished Toastmaster and Outstanding Corporation Support Award (2013); and she also received ImpacT Awards (HCA Midwest Health System) for Client Interface & Efficiency (2011 & 2013) from the Kansas City Business Journal.

“Sarah daily demonstrates how hard work and firm commitment in both her professional life and community participation have resulted in her exemplary reputation,” says Clifton Mills, Chief Financial Officer, HCA Midwest Health System. “HCA Midwest Health System is fortunate to benefit from Sarah’s expertise and she is highly deserving of this honor.”

Richardson also directed field operations at HCA’s corporate headquarters in Nashville, TN, where she implemented a Corporate and 14-division Distributed Support Model which strengthened customer service and demographic-driven business needs fulfillment. By transitioning the 14-division staffing, payroll, training and education, financial and project management practices and systems into common approaches and platforms and introducing best practices, she also eliminated cost, complexities and confusion while increasing performance.

Richardson’s other previous positions with HCA have included Division Information Security Official for the Far West Division of HCA, Henderson, NV; and Director, Information Services & Technology, HCA’s Mountain View Hospital, Las Vegas, NV.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and completed the MBA program through the University of Phoenix. In 2010 Richardson also attended the Scarlett Leadership Institute Executive Program.

A dedicated community volunteer, Richardson served as Vice President Membership for the not-for-profit HIMSS Heart of America (2011-2012); Board Member for Happy Tales Humane (2010; Franklin, TN); and Board Member for Monroe Harding Inc. (2009-2010; Nashville, TN). In addition, she chaired a major HCA Hope Fund event (2010) and was a team leader of Caring for the Community Campaign (HCA-sponsored, 2009). She was also Area Governor of Toastmasters International (2011-2012), founding the MidAmerica Division Chapter in 2011.  Richardson is a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City – Kauffman Scholars Program (2013).

 “It’s wonderful to be recognized for my work with HCA Midwest Health System,” Richardson says. “I’m so honored that I’ve been included among this group of stellar, accomplished professionals. I am thankful that HCA fosters an environment where this is possible.”