Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) has announced the retirement of Lynn Simon, MD, President, Healthcare Innovation and Chief Medical Officer, effective at the end of the year. Dr. Simon will transition into a consulting role from January 1, 2025, continuing to advise the company’s management team on healthcare innovation and facilitating potential new partnerships.
During her 14-year tenure at CHS, Dr. Simon achieved several milestones, including establishing an AHRQ-certified Patient Safety Organization, leading to a 90% reduction in the serious safety event rate over the past decade. She also played a pivotal role in developing CHS’ proprietary Transfer Center and Patient Access Center, which facilitated prompt and safe patient transfers and centralized scheduling for patient appointments into primary care practices, respectively. These initiatives have been instrumental in enhancing access to healthcare services and driving growth at CHS-affiliated health systems.
In early 2023, Dr. Simon assumed a new role to accelerate innovation across CHS and has since implemented various technologies and programs aimed at improving care delivery and patient experiences. These include a remote patient monitoring program serving over 14,000 individuals with chronic conditions, a virtual patient sitting program for 24/7 monitoring of hospitalized patients at high risk for falls, a maternal-fetal early warning system using AI to improve childbirth safety, and a partnership addressing drug shortages and rising pharmaceutical costs in hospital settings.
As part of a long-term succession plan, Miguel Benet, MD, Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations, will succeed Dr. Simon as the President of Clinical Operations and Chief Medical Officer beginning in 2025. Dr. Benet currently oversees all of the company’s clinical services and operations, including various initiatives to advance safety, quality, and clinical outcomes.
Aside from her consulting role at CHS, Dr. Simon plans to remain involved in the healthcare industry with a focus on innovation, including board and advisory opportunities. She currently serves on the board of directors for Ascend Learning, ForeFront Dermatology, and Cadence, and has been recognized as one of the Top Healthcare Innovators, 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders, and the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare.
Community Health Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare services, operating in 39 distinct markets across 15 states, owning or leasing 70 affiliated hospitals with more than 11,000 beds and operating more than 1,000 sites of care. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CYH.” The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares 2.4% to a price of $5.52. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.
