James begins tenure as LMC president

April 25--William B. "Bill" James, M.H.A, has been appointed as president of Lexington Medical Center effective April 21. He replaces Steven C. Snelgrove, a long-term Wake Forest Baptist Health executive, who left the post in February to assume a position as president of a hospital associated with Johns Hopkins Medicine in Columbia, Md..

James said he appreciates the opportunity to become part of the Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital System, as well as to get to know the area better.

"An opportunity to be a part of the Baptist system was too much to turn down," James said. "I have known of Lexington for years and have heard nothing but good things. It is a great chance to be in Lexington as well as be part of a great system."

James, 55, was the former president and chief executive officer Northern Hospital of Surry County for 19 years. He has a 30-year career in community hospital management at numerous hospitals in Virginia, Alabama and North Carolina.

James completed undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia and obtained a master's degree in Health Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as a member of the North Carolina Hospital Association'sBoard of Trustees.

As president, James will assume leadership for all aspects of planning, critical operations and services. He said that some of his goals include continuing to improve patient satisfaction through high-quality care delivery, assuring sound fiscal operation of the hospital and outpatient facilities and collaborating with clinical leaders, executives and faculty at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to ensure the successful operation of inpatient and outpatient services at Lexington Medical Center.

"This hospital is on the move," James said. "The synergy between it and system's resources are going to really be a plus as we continue to move forward in this area of health care reform. Everyone is still trying to sort that out, but we have a great foundation here."

James said he is a hands-on kind of administrator, who wants to hear feedback from patients, the community as well as the staff. He began his first day on the job at 5 a.m. meeting the night shift employees and speaking one-on-one to patients.

"I have started to get a sense of what their thoughts are on the care they received," James said. "I want to know what they think how they are cared for and its been nothing but glowing reviews. That has helped me get a much better appreciation quickly of what does happen here every day."

James said that one of the ares that LMC will continue to strive for is preventative care through community outreach. He said the hospital has partnered with many organizations, such as the YMCA and FaithHealth, to help foster health care education and wellness.

"We want to continue that momentum moving forward in terms of connecting with the community," James said. "Hospitals in the future are going to be a key source of health care information. It is all tied in with health care reform to reduce costs and increase prevention. We have a much broader role than taking care of people when they are sick. The exciting part is to see this organization is already immersed in that kind of effort. We are outside the hospital walls already and that is going to continue to expand."

James and his wife, Terry, are the parents of two daughters and two sons. In Mount Airy, James served as chair of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, chair of the 2013 Mount Airy Walk of the March of Dimes, on the CEO Roundtable of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership, and on the boards of directors of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, United Fund of Surry, and Surry County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

James said that he is looking forward to becoming part of the LMC family and continuing the progress the organization has already made.

"I'm here as part of team," James said. "The staff here really connects with each other. I have observed how they interact with each other and it excites me to see how dedicated and committed they are to this organization and to each other. It takes a team to pull it off, we have a great one here."

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at [email protected]. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDisptachSM

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