Ohio Valley hospital system names interim CEO

WHEELING, W.Va. --


Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corp. has appointed Michael J. Caruso as interim president and chief executive officer.


Ohio Valley is the parent company of Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry.

 
Caruso replaces George Couch, who stepped down. Couch served as president and CEO since January 2011.

 
Ohio Valley board of directors chairman Matthew Thomas says Caruso's appointment is effective Monday. Caruso has been with Ohio Valley since 2009 and he most recently served as chief operating officer.
 

Caruso said the OVHS&E experienced a significant turnaround and took several positive steps under Couch's leadership. Couch implemented staff cuts which tightened a struggling budget, but maintained patient care with nurse-to patient ratios remaining the same. In addition, Couch broke ground on an expansion project consisting of a 30-bed behavioral health center.


After the changes were announced, Caruso said, "Like the communities we serve, we believe in our medical staffs, nurses and employees. We know we have the talented people and the right tools to be successful and remain a viable health care institution in the Ohio Valley."


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