Presbyterian Healthcare Services CEO announces retirement [The Santa Fe New Mexican]

Mar. 12—Dale Maxwell, CEO of the sprawling Presbyterian Healthcare Services empire, plans to retire at the end of July, the organization announced Tuesday.

Maxwell, 58, has led the system — which includes nine hospitals, a health insurance plan and a multi-specialty medical group — since 2016, and has been at the organization since 2002, according to a news release announcing his retirement.

Presbyterian's board of directors will oversee a national search for Maxwell's replacement.

Maxwell declined an interview Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman, but said in a release it's been "an honor and a privilege" to work alongside Presbyterian's staff.

"Through their commitment to excellence, compassion for our patients and members, and respect for each other, we have accomplished extraordinary things," he said in the release. "I will forever remain personally devoted to Presbyterian and the people who make it great."

Maxwell's time at the helm of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, which employs more than 13,000 people, was marked by a major facility expansion and a failed merger, as well as by the pandemic, supply chain problems and inflation, workforce upheaval and the sea change those factors have brought about in health care.

Maxwell oversaw the yearslong effort to build the new nine-story hospital tower at the health system's downtown Albuquerque campus, which was unveiled just over a year ago.

The news release noted Maxwell "expanded access to care in rural communities and continued serving as a managed care organization for Centennial Care."

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, he partnered with other health systems and the state to navigate the pandemic while providing unwavering support to Presbyterian's clinicians and staff as they cared for the community," the release said, noting Maxwell also helped support the passage of the Healthcare Delivery and Access Act this year, which establishes a program that will pool contributions from most New Mexico hospitals, leverage them for a federal Medicaid match, then pump that all the money back into the contributing health care organizations.

The pandemic took a major financial toll on Presbyterian, along with other hospitals across the country.

Last year, the health system announced plans to merge with Iowa-based UnityPoint Health to create what would have been an $11 billion behemoth. Maxwell at the time described the merger as a cost-saving solution during a tough economic stretch that could help address operational inefficiencies at the debt-laden institution. He noted more than 50% of the nation's hospitals operated at losses in 2022, including Presbyterian, which sustained a $370 million loss in 2022 from heavy declines in investments.

Just seven months later, though, the two companies called off the deal.

In the release Tuesday, Presbyterian Healthcare Services board Chair Norm Becker praised Maxwell's leadership during his time as CEO.

"Throughout his time at Presbyterian, Dale made a significant impact on our organization and healthcare across the state. His legacy of strength, commitment and compassion have transformed how we deliver care and coverage to New Mexicans," Becker said, according to the release.

Maxwell, who grew up in Silver City, said in the release he is committed to working with the system's leaders in the months to come.

"I will support the board and the new CEO in whatever way I can to ensure a smooth transition and continued success for the communities we serve," he said, according to the release.

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