Research Medical Center
September 05, 2018

Research Medical Center—part of HCA Midwest Health—Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider—announced today that Deb Ohnoutka, BSN, MHA, has been appointed as Chief Nursing Officer for Research Medical Center. Ohnoutka assumed her new responsibilities at the award-winning, 590-bed acute-care hospital earlier this week.

An acclaimed hospital administrator and nursing executive with nearly 35 years of experience, Ohnoutka was most recently Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, Missouri, where she focused on patient safety and building an internal culture of trust and integrity. In addition, during her three-year tenure as CEO, she established a strong hospital governing board.

“We are honored to have such a respected and dynamic hospital and nursing leader join Research Medical Center as chief nursing office,” says Research Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Jackie DeSouza-Van Blaricum. “Deb has worked in diverse healthcare environments and her commitment and expertise in driving improved quality, patient experience and employee engagement are valuable assets as we continually evolve and expand our services to meet the community’s needs. Her devotion to delivering high quality, compassionate care to patients and their families supports our mission and vision of ‘Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life’ and honors the profession of nursing.”

“I am thrilled to join Research Medical Center and its remarkable team of healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to ensuring the best outcomes possible for patients and providing an excellent patient care experience,” Ohnoutka says. “Research Medical Center enjoys a long history of medical innovation and advance and compassionate patient care in the Kansas City region that directly benefits the community’s well-being, and I look forward to building on the foundation of this outstanding healthcare institution’s Mission, Vision and Values and its well-respected nursing program.”

Over the years, Ohnoutka has earned a reputation as inspiring, collaborative and effective healthcare leader. Prior to her role as CEO at St. Mary’s, she served as Vice President of Nursing and Chief of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Medical Center, where, among other responsibilities, she provided leadership for personnel and activities in the nursing division, including oversight of 450 beds as VP of Nursing. Passionate about Women’s Services, Ohnoutka was Administrative Director of Women’s and Children’s Services and Director of Maternity Services at two area hospitals.

Ohnoutka earned a diploma as a Registered Nurse from the Jenny Edmundson School of Nursing in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, where she graduated cum laude. She received a Master of Health Care Administration from Central Michigan State University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. An active member of the community, Ohnoutka spends volunteer time in the area of education and civic responsibility.

Ohnoutka replaces Diane Fulton RN, MSN, who retired as Research Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer following 30 years of nursing servant-leadership. Among many accomplishments during her tenure, Fulton was instrumental in helping Research Medical Center become the first hospital in Missouri and the second in the Kansas City region to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Program Certification.

For more information on Research Medical Center, visit the Research Medical Center website.