HCA (NYSE:HCA), which operates 164 hospitals and 111 ambulatory surgery centers, announced today that two veteran HCA division presidents are undertaking new responsibilities.
Stephen E. Corbeil, who has been President of the company’s Midwest Division in Kansas City since 2007, will become President of HCA’s Nashville-based TriStar Division. He replaces Larry Kloess, whose retirement was announced earlier this month. In addition, HCA veteran and longtime Delta Division President Mel Lagarde will become President of HCA’s newly-named MidAmerica Division, based in Kansas City. This division includes the company’s existing Delta Division (based in New Orleans) and Midwest Division operations. HCA will maintain a market presence in the New Orleans area with certain division staff based there. These transitions will begin immediately.
“The merger of Delta and Midwest, two of our smaller divisions, makes sense for a number of reasons,” said Paul Rutledge, President of HCA’s Central Group. “Joining the two divisions enables us to improve efficiency while continuing to support our hospitals and creating a multi-market operating unit similar to most other HCA divisions.”
“Steve and Mel are veteran HCA division presidents with proven track records as outstanding multi-hospital leaders,” said Rutledge. “Their familiarity with HCA’s culture will serve them well in their new roles.”
As MidAmerica Division President, Lagarde, 54, is responsible for HCA’s 18 hospitals and six ambulatory surgery centers in Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. A 32-year employee of HCA, Lagarde served since 1995 as President of HCA’s Delta Division, which at one point included HCA’s operations in Austin and Corpus Christi. Prior to that, Lagarde was Chief Operating Officer of HCA’s Gulf Coast Division in Texas from 1994 to 1995. He also served in various hospital leadership positions at several HCA hospitals in Georgia, Virginia and Texas.
In his new role leading TriStar, Corbeil, 51, is responsible for the division’s 17 hospitals and nine surgery centers in Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky, including seven facilities in HCA’s hometown market of Middle Tennessee. Prior to returning to HCA in 2007 to become President of HCA’s Midwest Division, Corbeil held several senior-level, multi-market leadership positions with Tenet Healthcare. Before that, he was CEO of HCA’s Medical City Dallas Hospital from 1996 to 2000.