Catholic Healthcare West Names New Vice President of Safety and Security

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2001

Business Editors/Health Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 17, 2001

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) recently announced the appointment of Dennis P. Hemphill, CSE, CHSE, as the new system vice president of safety and security, effective January 8, 2001.

As vice president of safety and security, Hemphill has system-wide managerial responsibilities for safety and security operations, emergency preparedness and construction safety. He will work with all departments within the health care system, as well as external resources, including contractors, consultants, vendors, regulatory agencies and Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that CHW has a consistent, cohesive security program in place.

"I am pleased to welcome someone of Dennis' experience and knowledge of safety and security practices to CHW," said Lloyd Dean, president and CEO, Catholic Healthcare West. "In his role, Dennis will help CHW achieve a centralized focus and standardized approach to operationalizing the many Federal, State and local mandates required of hospitals. For example a coordinated system approach for complying with new regulations for seismic safety and patient privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) will help CHW minimize costly liability and avoid duplication of efforts."

Hemphill most recently served as the corporate director of Safety and Security for the Advocate Healthcare System in Oak Brook, Illinois where he directed all safety and security programs and activities. Prior to his employment with the Advocate Healthcare System, Hemphill served with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Catholic Healthcare West is the largest Catholic health care system based in the Western United States with 47 hospitals and seven medical practice groups in California, Arizona and Nevada. CHW is sponsored by nine religious orders and works to further the healing ministry of Jesus by delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services; providing direct services to the poor and disenfranchised, and advocating on their behalf; and partnering with others to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. CHW annually cares for more than 300,000 patients; provides more than $400 million in community benefits and care for the poor; and employs approximately 40,000 people.