Community Health Systems appoints Tim Hingtgen executive vice president of operations

Community Health Systems Headquarters in Franklin, TN.

Community Health Systems has named Tim L. Hingtgen as their Executive Vice President of Operations, effective May 1, 2016, the company announced Tuesday. Hingtgen has been with the CHS for eight years, but has more than twenty years of executive level healthcare management experience.

He will work directly with the company's chief executive, chief operating and chief financial officers to help raise operational and financial performance in key markets, the company said.

[Also: Community Health Systems chief operating officer David Miller to retire]

Hingtgen first joined CHS in 2008 as a vice president of operations.Then in January 2014, he was promoted to president of division IV operations. According to the company, he has overseen the operations of affiliated hospitals in Alaska, Arizona,California, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Prior to joining CHS, Hingtgen served as a chief operating or chief executive officer of facilities in Arizona, Indiana and Nevada.

"Tim Hingtgen is a results-driven operator who has capably managed healthcare systems in diverse and complex markets," CEO Wayne Smith said in the announcement. "As we leverage Tim's expertise and experience across our enterprise, I am confident he will continue to have a positive impact on our overall operations."

[Also: Community Health Systems' posts 4th quarter loss]

Hingtgen's appointment comes just days after the company revealed David L. Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer of Community Health Systems, will retire at the end of the year. Miller was the first COO ever for CHS and held the position since for more than two years.

CHS also announced it will reduce the number of divisions from six to five and reorganizing its portfolio in advance of the planned spin-off of Quorum Health Corporation. The reduction in divisions is effective May 1. Quorum Health Corporation has 38 affiliated hospitals and related outpatient services in 16 states, and subsidiary Quorum Health Resources provides consulting services to non-affiliated hospitals. The spin-off is expected to be completed on April 29, 2016. 

Twitter: @BethJSanborn