VAIL, Colo. -- Doris Kirchner has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Vail Valley Medical Center effective immediately, a decision reached by VVMC Board of Directors earlier this week.

VVMC's Board of Directors spent the past 70 days in a thorough search process with the assistance of a nationally acclaimed health care recruiter who established arduous criteria and a job descriptionspecific to the current and future needs of VVMC. The search process included outside professional resources, the Board of Directors, medical staff and community leaders. Doris's VVMC experience, and significant accomplishments, combined with her passion, leadership skills and commitment make her the ideal candidate.

Kirchner was Chief Operating Officer (COO) for VVMC for eight years from 1986-1994 and has been COO for the past 18 months. As COO, Doris directed 450 of the hospital's employees. She substantially improved the patient care, patient safety, enhanced physician relationships and developed and implemented the expansion plans in Gypsum, Edwards and on the Vail Campus.

Under Kirchner's leadership, VVMC has received numerous awards and accreditations for quality patient care. Most notable are:
-Avatar's Award for Exceeding Patient Expectations
-Avatar's Award for Overall Performance
-A Healthgrades award for Patient Satisfaction (VVMC ranks in top 10 percent nationwide)
-Accreditation from the Joint Commission
-Accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP)

In very challenging economic times, in partnership with Charlie Crevling, chief financial officer (CFO), the senior management team and all of VVMC's dedicated staff have significantly improved the financial discipline within the organization and overall financial health of VVMC.

"The Board is enthusiastic to have Doris lead VVMC," says Ron Davis, Chairman. "We've worked very closely with her over the past 18 months and value her integrity, superior clinical expertise, relationships with physicians, decisiveness and her ability to chart the future course of our hospital in the community that she loves."

Following Doris's role as COO of VVMC from 1986-1994 she was a consultant with Quorum Health Services, a national hospital management company. She worked with hospitals in the United States and Canada in strategic planning, board development, clinical practices and continuous quality improvement. Adding to her diversity of experience she spent 10 years with KSL Recreation Corporation where she built the human resources department for some eight renowned resorts and over 10,000 employees.

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