PANAMA CITY — The chief executive of Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Health System is stepping down after a little more than a year and a half on the job, according to a news release.
Barry Keel, who worked in both not-for-profit and for-profit settings previously in his career, took on the role of CEO on May 17, 2013. Keel had been the Alabama Market CEO for Health Management Associates prior to joining Bay Med. In a statement released by the hospital Tuesday, Keel announced he would be stepping down in January to pursue other opportunities closer to his children and grandchildren in Alabama.
“It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as CEO with Bay Medical,” Keel said. “I feel this is a good time to pass the baton to new leadership. I will always look back on my tenure at Bay with gratification and affection concerning the progress and stability that together we have been able to achieve during the last couple of years.”
Spokeswoman Tammy Newton said the tenure of health care industry CEOs at one hospital usually hovers between two and four years, though some remain longer.
“It is not unusual, and he will be staying on to help with the transition,” Newton said. “Patients will never know the difference.”
During Keel’s tenure, the hospital received Level II Trauma Center Designation and a Joint Commission Certificate of Distinction for Heart Attack Care. It also was recognized as one of the nation’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and as a Joint Commission Top Performer for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgery.
“The last few years have been challenging ones in the health care industry and Bay Medical had to make some very hard choices in order to thrive,” said Dr. Joe Trantham, chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees. “We are now well-positioned for a very bright future in 2015 and beyond.”
The hospital also announced Mark Gregson will serve as its interim CEO beginning in January. Gregson has for the past 10 years provided interim executive level leadership in not-for-profit and investor-owned hospitals, health systems and physician practices.
The hospital’s board of trustees will select the next chief executive.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that the leadership transition goes as smoothly as possible,” Trantham said. “We have great leadership in place to support the interim CEO, and we have an award-winning group of employees and medical staff. ... We are very optimistic about the future of the hospital in the coming environment of healthcare reform.”
Former CEO Steve Johnson had been with the hospital from 2001 through its sale to Sacred Heart Health Systems. In January 2013, he announced he was leaving the hospital to spend more time with his family.