Chase Brexton hires new president and CEO
Chase Brexton Health Care announced Thursday that it has hired a new president and CEO two months after the last person to head the community health center left amid a contentious unionization effort and badly strained relations between management and employees.
The Baltimore-based health center said that Patrick Mutch, who has held executive positions at several hospitals in Maryland over the past decade, will start in the new position next month.
Mulch, who was not available for comment, was most recently the interim president and CEO at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore.
“I am extremely excited to join Chase Brexton Health Care, and carry on its legacy of community care serving some of Baltimore's most vulnerable populations,” Mutch said in a statement. “Chase Brexton's mission is inspiring to me, and I am honored to lead a group of health care providers with such a strong commitment to their patients.
“Health care is changing to integrate all determinants of patient health, including medical, behavioral, dental and social. Chase Brexton is uniquely positioned to accomplish this vision and be a leader in the community.”
Bonnie Phipps, the former CEO of St. Agnes, said she hired Mutch as a vice president of physician and strategic services where he oversaw contracting with physicians, strategic planning and communications. He was also the liaison for a community health center located within the hospital, which Phipps believes gave experience he can use at his new job at Chase Brexton.
Phipps described him as a “democratic” leader who likes to hear other people's ideas.
“If I could hire him again, I would,” she said.
When Phipps was promoted to a job with St. Agnes' parent, Ascension Health, in May 2015, Mutch took over the job on an interim basis. St. Agnes chose Keith Vander Kolk as its new president in December 2015.
It's not clear what Mutch did subsequently and Chase Brexton declined to provide Mutch's resume or specific details about his work history.
Mutch previously headed Dimensions Healthcare System during a period of financially tough times for the company, which owned hospitals in Prince George's County.
Mutch has also served as executive director of Mission Health Partners, a health care alliance between St. Agnes Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center. He also headed a hospital in the Boston area.
Chase Brexton's previous CEO, Richard Larison, said in November that he would not renew his contract. His departure followed acrimony between the community health care provider and its employees, which culminated in the unionization of its workforce.
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