Hot Springs, Arkansas (May 8, 2020) – National Park Medical Center (NPMC) today announced that Scott Smith will join its team as chief executive officer (CEO), effective May 25. In addition to this position, Smith will also assume the expanded leadership role of market CEO, in which he will have oversight over both NPMC and Saline Memorial Hospital (SMH), another LifePoint Health facility located in Benton, Arkansas. SMH CEO Michael Stewart will continue to manage the daily operations of that facility and its affiliated assets, and report directly to Smith.
Smith comes to National Park from Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City, Kansas, where he has served as CEO since 2018. He replaces Joann Ettien, who has served as interim CEO of NPMC since November 2019.
“Scott is a veteran hospital leader with a strong track record of improving quality, growing services and enhancing physician and board relations,” said Robert Wampler, Mountain Division President for LifePoint Health, of which NPMC and SMH are a part. “We are delighted to have him take the reins as market CEO, as we explore new ways for the facilities to share resources and work together to continue providing and enhancing access to high quality care in the region. This is an exciting step as we continue advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier in the state of Arkansas.”
Smith has been part of LifePoint Health since 2006. He has built a reputation for his passionate commitment to quality and safety, and is known for developing strong and productive relationships with physicians and employees. Before taking the CEO post at Western Plains in 2018, Smith was CEO and Louisiana market president at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte, Louisiana, and its Acadian Medical Center campus in Eunice, Louisiana. Previously, he served as CEO of Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Mississippi, and Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City, Louisiana. Prior to joining LifePoint, Smith was CEO of Central Mississippi Medical Center and River West Medical Center in Louisiana.
“Scott met all of the rigorous criteria we were looking for in the next leader to take National Park Medical Center into the future,” said NPMC Chief of Staff Peter Guresky, MD. “We are excited to welcome him to our community and collaborate with him to further enhance quality care and services here, while also exploring and advancing new initiatives to make our region healthier. The future is bright, and we are eager to begin this next chapter with Scott at the helm.”
Smith holds a master’s degree in business administration and management from Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to step into this new role and help ensure that people throughout the region continue to have access to the highest quality healthcare services close to home,” Smith said. “By taking a regional view of healthcare and effectively leveraging the synergies of both National Park and Saline Memorial, I have a clear vision for how we can create stronger and even more vibrant hospitals that are poised for long-term success. I look forward to meeting everyone, getting up to speed quickly and diving right in to my new role.”
About National Park Medical Center
A LifePoint Health facility, National Park Medical Center (NPMC) is a 166-bed full-service hospital serving Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the surrounding communities. NPMC offers a comprehensive range of medical services and high quality care, combining the medical and technological resources of a regional center with a commitment to compassionate care. To learn more, visit nationalparkmedical.com.
