Sierra Providence Health Network names new CEO for East Side hospital

Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN) announced Wednesday that Nicholas “Nico” Tejeda will become the new Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Providence East Medical Center (SPEMC) effective July 13.

Tejeda assumes the CEO role at SPEMC from Sally Hurt-Deitch. She was appointed Market CEO of SPHN and CEO of Providence Memorial Hospital and Providence Children’s Hospital in April.

SPEMC recently completed its $67 million construction project, including a new patient tower and new expanded Emergency Department.

“We are excited to welcome Nico to the Sierra Providence team,” said Sally Hurt-Deitch, Market CEO of SPHN. “He brings a proven track record and a great deal of enthusiasm to the organization. We are fortunate to have him and I know he is going to be a great asset as we continue to grow in the El Paso region,” Hurt-Deitch said in a statement.

Tejeda most recently served as CEO of Doctors Hospital of Manteca in Manteca, Calif. In this role, . Tejeda led the hospital to improvements in adjusted admissions and quality. Additionally, he established many new service lines, including interventional radiology and the area’s first outpatient wound care center.

Tejeda holds a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

Earlier this month Hank Hernandez, CEO at Las Palmas Medical Center for the past 20 years, resigned that position to take a job as CEO and Market COO of Sierra Providence Health Network’s new teaching hospital.

Las Palmas Del Sol officials announced June 2 that Hank Hernandez has submitted his resignation as chief executive officer, effective immediately.

C. David Huffstutler, Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare CEO, released the following statement:

“I am grateful for Hank’s leadership and for his 20 years of service to HCA, and I appreciate the many contributions he made to Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare during his tenure with us. We are initiating a search for a new chief executive officer of Las Palmas Medical Center, and I am confident that we will find a capable individual who will continue to build on Hank’s successes. Don Karl, chief operating officer of Las Palmas Medical Center, will assume the duties as interim chief executive officer until a successor has been named. We expect to continue, without interruption, the exceptional care and service to our patients and physicians during this transition.”

Hernandez will join SPHN on June 22 as head of its new Transmountain Campus, which is scheduled to open in early 2017.

Additionally, Hernandez will serve as the Sierra Providence Health Network market chief operating officer. As CEO, Hernandez will lead the construction of the facility and oversee the direction, strategies and operations for the new teaching hospital, created in partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

“Hank is an accomplished leader with a strong track record of success in healthcare,” said Eric Evans, chief executive officer of Tenet Healthcare’s Texas Region. “His experience and insight will be invaluable as we continue to raise the level of care provided to the El Paso community and train the next generation of medical professionals.”

Prior to joining Las Palmas, Hernandez held various healthcare positions in the U.S. Army and received several military awards for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Overseas Ribbon.

“Hank’s two decades of experience meeting the healthcare needs of our community will serve him well as we begin to establish a patient-focused culture at the Transmountain Campus,” said Hurt-Deitch. “He shares our system’s focus on quality, service and compassionate care. I am confident in his leadership as we expand the medical services offered to the rapidly growing communities of northwest El Paso.”

Hernandez received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a master’s degree in health services management from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, and a master’s degree in hospital administration from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.