Exciting Leadership Change: Sutter Health Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

Name: Kevin Manemann

Previous title: Executive vice president and chief integration officer, City of Hope

New title: Chief operating officer, Sutter Health

Kevin Manemann, with over 20 years in health system leadership, will become Sutter Health’s next chief operating officer starting September 15. This position has been vacant since March, when former COO Mark Sevco left to lead the Alleghany Health Network.

Before joining Sutter, Manemann worked at the City of Hope, a $6 billion cancer care system in Southern California. He also had significant roles at Providence St. Joseph Health, where he led a division generating over $10 billion. His experience there spans more than 16 years.

Sutter Health has made several key leadership changes recently. Alongside Manemann, they hired a new chief financial officer in May and appointed a chief scientific officer and chief nurse officer earlier this year. His new role involves overseeing various operations, including service lines, ambulatory care, nursing, and home care. He’ll team up with the chief physician executive to drive improvements.

One of his immediate goals is to advance Sutter’s ambulatory care initiatives. Sutter is expanding its presence in Northern California, where it already runs over two dozen hospitals and has added around 1,000 clinicians in 2024. The system is also launching new care centers and making significant investments in facilities, like a new neurological care center in San Francisco.

Moreover, Sutter is collaborating with SCAN Health Plan to introduce new Medicare Advantage products next year. They are also working with GE Healthcare to incorporate artificial intelligence into their services. These partnerships highlight the system’s commitment to innovation in health care.

Financially, Sutter remains relatively stable compared to other non-profits, but they face challenges like rising labor costs and supply prices. In 2024, they recorded $142 million in operating income, down from $320 million the previous year. Despite this, their overall profits soared to $1 billion thanks to substantial investment income.

However, Sutter hasn’t escaped operational hurdles. They are dealing with disputes with major insurers and have faced legal challenges, including multi-million-dollar settlements related to anticompetitive practices and retirement plan mismanagement. Such pressures reflect broader struggles within the health care sector as organizations adapt to changing market dynamics.

As Manemann steps into this pivotal role, his extensive experience may be crucial in steering Sutter Health through its growth phase while facing external pressures. His leadership could shape the future of health care delivery in Northern California and beyond.

Source link