New CEO and CFO named at Sparks hospital

Melody Trimble will be the new CEO of Sparks Regional Medical Center and its more than 2,000 employees beginning Dec. 1, according to a memo from a Health Management Associates executive.

Also, David Rothenberger will join Sparks as the new chief financial officer.

A definitive agreement to sell Sparks Health System to Naples, Fla.-based HMA was signed Nov. 4. The two parties announced Aug. 14 their intent to seek the transaction. According to the definitive agreement, ownership of the hospital will transfer to HMA on Nov. 30.

The management changes were issued in a Friday (Nov. 6) memo from Britt Reynolds, HMA division vice president over the geographic region that includes Sparks, to the directors and managers at Sparks.

Chip Paris, a spokesman for Sparks, said a more formal notice of management changes will be made soon. He did confirm to The City Wire that information in the memo is accurate.

Trimble has served as the CEO of Venice Regional Medical Center since 2005, when HMA bought the financially troubled 312-bed hospital in Venice, Fla. An Aug. 10 story from the HeraldTribune.com outlines the financial turnaround of the hospital, with HMA investing more than $30 million in hospital renovations and new equipment.

Trimble, according to the Venice Regional Medical Center Web site, received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University, and earned a master’s in nursing at the University of Kentucky. She joined HMA in 1991.

“She is a highly regarded leader who possesses strong leadership, excellent relationship building and strategic execution skills,” Reynolds said of Trimble.

Ted Woodrell, Sparks’ current CEO, and Dan Hamman, Sparks’ CFO, are so far the only top Sparks officers to not stay. Woodrell and Hamman are exceptions because they are employees of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Resources which has a management contract with Sparks.

HMA is a publicly held company that reported $104.05 million in net income on total revenue of $3.418 billion for the first nine months of 2009. The company operates 54 hospitals in 15 states and employs about 32,000. HMA also operates Summit Medical Center in Van Buren and two Van Buren clinics — Cornerstone Family Clinic and Internal Medicine & Associates.

Following is the complete text of the memo announcing the management changes at Sparks.
As I am sure you are aware, Health Management Associates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sparks Regional Medical Center with an expected close date of December 1, 2009.

Yesterday, I and Angie Marchi, our Vice President of Operations, met with many of you and certainly want to thank everyone for the warm reception we received. As we all get to know one another, I am confident you will find that we — me, Angie, and the entire Health Management team — invite and welcome any and all input and feedback as we begin this journey together.  Indeed, open communication will be vitally important to the mission of taking an already great organization and making it even greater.

I am pleased to announce that Melody Trimble will be joining the Sparks Regional Medical Center team as CEO on December 1st. Melody comes to Sparks from Venice Regional Medical Center, where she has served as CEO since 2005.  She is a highly regarded leader who possesses strong leadership, excellent relationship building and strategic execution skills.

Additionally, David Rothenberger, who many of you have met over the last several weeks, will be staying with Sparks as the new CFO. Like Melody, David is a strong leader with in-depth experience in large, highly complex hospitals and health systems. David is in Fort Smith now and Melody will be relocating permanently by December 1st.  Both Melody and David are excited to join each of you on a new and exciting team — one that will undoubtedly expand upon the great successes Sparks has enjoyed.

Over next several weeks the team will be visiting frequently to ensure that the transition to the Health Management seamless and efficient. Detailed schedules and agendas will be forthcoming and communicated by your administrative team.  Please feel free to share this communication with each of your associates.

Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation to Ted Woodrell and Dan Hamman, who have announced that they will be leaving their respective positions effective with the transition on December 1, 2009. They have provided wonderful leadership to the entire Sparks organization over the past several years and been exceptional during this time of transition. I am sure you will join me in wishing each of them well in their future endeavors.

Again, thank you for the warm reception and do know that I recognize and appreciate your efforts and cooperation.