Northwest Health trying to fill leadership vacancies

The CEOs of Springdale-based healthcare organization Northwest Health and its largest hospital, Northwest Medical Center – Springdale, recently resigned.

In July, Denten Park resigned as market CEO and relocated out of state to be closer to family. He started the job in June 2018.

“It has been my pleasure to serve this community. It has also been a great privilege to support the employees, medical staff and board members of Northwest Health,” Park said. “This is an outstanding, compassionate team, and I know patients in Northwest Arkansas will continue to receive the quality care they need.”

Patrick Kerrwood, CEO of Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville, is serving as interim market CEO.

In October, Hans Driessnack, CEO of Northwest Medical Center – Springdale, accepted a new job and relocated to Arizona to be closer to family. He worked in Springdale since December 2018. Jose Echavarria, assistant CEO of Northwest Health, is serving as interim CEO of the Springdale hospital.

A nationwide search is underway for both of the open positions.

Northwest Health has five hospitals in Northwest Arkansas, comprising 487 beds, and a combined medical staff of more than 900 physicians and over 2,400 employees. It also includes a standalone emergency department in Fayetteville and another freestanding ER combined with an urgent care clinic that’s set to open late this year in west Bentonville.