1/21/2010 - Jim Pelch Hired as Executive Director of Adventist Medical Center's Northwest Regional Heart Center

Nationwide Search Brings Industry Leader to Portland, Ore.

Portland, Ore. -- Adventist Medical Center (AMC) has hired Jim Pelch as executive director of the Portland, Ore., hospital's Northwest Regional Heart Center. Pelch, who most recently served as director of the heart center at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wis., brings extensive experience to the role, including 10 years of cardiac center management. Pelch's experience includes developing and building organizational departments and designing measurement systems to maximize clinical and financial outcomes. Pelch was selected following a nationwide search.

"We are pleased to welcome Jim to the Adventist Health team and look forward to working with him as we continue to grow our Northwest Regional Heart Center," said Tom Russell, president and CEO of Adventist Medical Center. "Jim is a natural leader whose understanding of cardiac care and extensive management experience will be instrumental in positioning Adventist Medical Center's Northwest Regional Heart Center as the premier cardiac care facility in the Portland metropolitan area."

Adventist Medical Center's Northwest Regional Heart Center opened in May 2009 on the hospital's East Portland campus. The 181,000- square-foot, state-of-the-art medical facility provides innovative cardiovascular procedures and technology, and is recognized as among the top 10 percent of heart care facilities in the nation. Acknowledged also as a regional leader, Adventist Medical Center has treated more than 33 percent of all ambulance transported cardiac arrest patients in Multnomah County since spring 2007.

"Jim has built his reputation on ensuring top quality patient care and we look forward to utilizing his experience to expand Adventist Medical Center’s cardiac services while also remaining focused on providing the best patient care possible," said Leslie Furlow, vice president of patient care services for Adventist Medical Center. "He has a proven track record of transforming and implementing strategic initiatives designed to enhance the patient experience and will be an asset to the Northwest Regional Heart Center."

Pelch received his bachelor's degree in health care management services from Ottowa University in Kansas City, Kan. He spent the early part of his career at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kan., as the director of cardiopulmonary services, director of the cardiovascular catheterization laboratory, director of cardiac rehabilitation and director of neurodiagnostics, before moving to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. In addition, Pelch has taught courses for the Kansas University Pharmacy Doctorate Program and the Kansas Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

He is currently completing his Master of Business Administration at Lakeland College in Green Bay.

 

About Adventist Medical Center

Adventist Medical Center (AMC), located in southeast Portland, Ore., is a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. The faith-based health system prides its self on providing care you can have faith in and is home to the Northwest Regional Heart Center (NRHC), respected nationally for their care of cardiac patients.

Adventist Medical Center is part of Adventist Health, a not-for-profit, faith-based health system operating in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Founded on the Seventh-day Adventist heritage of Christian health care, Adventist Health is comprised of 18 hospitals with more than 2,800 beds, nearly 18,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, the largest system of rural health clinics in California, 15 home care agencies and three joint-venture retirement centers with a fourth on the way. For more information, visit www.adventisthealthnw.com or www.adventisthealth.org.

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