Toward readying Care New England for the new health care environment, several administrative and physician executives within the system have been appointed to new roles.

In making this announcement, Dennis D. Keefe, president and chief executive officer for Care New England, said health care reform will necessitate the development of a full continuum of care, the demonstration of improved quality and cost effectiveness, and the move toward greater clinical integration.

To facilitate these strategic goals, five leaders within Care New England will assume new system responsibility in addition to their current positions:

Care New England Chief Operating Officer – Sandra Coletta: In addition to maintaining her role as President and CEO of Kent Hospital, Coletta will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer for the system.In this capacity, she will oversee the operational integration of the system, working closely with operations leadership in each of the Care New England hospitals and the VNA of Care New England.Coletta, from Johnston, joined the system in 2008 when she assumed the role of president and CEO of Kent Hospital.She previously served at Lifespan where, among other responsibilities in her tenure there, she led system integration efforts and functioned as the chief operating officer at The Miriam Hospital.Coletta earned her MBA in Management from Bryant College and her BS in Accounting from Providence College.She began her career as a CPA.

Care New England Chief Medical Quality Officer – Raymond O. Powrie, MD: Dr. Powrie, who currently serves as Senior Vice President for Quality and Clinical Effectiveness and Acting Chief of the Department of Medicine at Women & Infants, will assume additional responsibility for the design and development of an exceptional program for quality, safety and risk management across all of the Care England operating units, with a goal toward standardizing protocols and procedures in keeping with best clinical quality practices throughout the system. He will be working with operating unit Quality Officers in developing and executing these plans.Dr. Powrie earned his medical degree from the University of Alberta, completed his residency training in internal medicine from the University of Calgary and his subspecialty training in Obstetric and Consultative Medicine at Women & Infants Hospitals and Brown.He is a Fellow in Internal Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada,

Internal Medicine and certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.Dr. Powrie is a professor of Medicine with the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.He lives in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Care New England Chief Clinical Integration Officer – Michael J. Dacey, MD, FACP: Dr. Dacey, currently Kent's Chief Medical Officer, will oversee the design and development of a leading edge health care delivery system that offers clinical care integration across Care New England and its affiliated entities and physician practices.This will be facilitated through the creation of a Clinical Leadership Council, which Dr. Dacey will chair, and will involve executive chiefs of clinical departments, nursing, and other key clinical and academic leaders throughout the system.A resident of Warwick, Dr. Dacey joined Kent Hospital in 2000.He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and critical medicine and is also certified by the American Board of Medical Examiners. He received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He interned at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and completed a multi-disciplinary critical care training program at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Dacey is currently a Candidate for Master of Science in Health Care Management Degree from Harvard School of Public Health.

Executive Vice President of Brain and Behavioral Health – Patricia Recupero, MD, JD: In addition to retaining her position as President and CEO of Butler Hospital, Dr. Recupero will lead the effort to coordinate the development of the brain and behavioral health service line across Care New England, which will aim at defining strategy and improving clinical growth, patient satisfaction, access, quality, and staff and physician engagement in this clinical area.Dr. Recupero is from Providence and has been a member of the Butler Hospital staff since 1989 where she has served in a number of leadership capacities before being named president and chief executive officer in 1999. Board certified in Forensic Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry, Dr. Recupero is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and has been a member of Brown's Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior since 1989, including serving as the Psychiatry Residency Training Director.She earned her law degree from Boston College and her medical degree at Brown University.

Executive Vice President of Women's Health – Constance A. Howes, JD, FACHE: In addition to retaining her position as President and CEO of Women & Infants Hospital, Howes will lead the effort to coordinate the development of the women's health service line, including defining strategy and improving clinical growth, patient satisfaction, access, quality, and staff and physician engagement in this area.She previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Women & Infants and Vice President and General Counsel for Care New England and Women & Infants.Before joining the hospital, Howes was an attorney with Tillinghast, Collins & Graham for 17 years where she practiced primarily in the area of business law and served as Chairman of the Corporate Department.She graduated from Kenyon College and received her J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.She is a resident of Providence.

"I owe these executives a debt of gratitude for their willingness to assume additional responsibility," said Keefe."Our goal in achieving greater system integration is to work toward continuous improvement in quality, patient safety, care integration and coordination, and the patient experience of care.Our success in these areas will enable us to become a more care effective and cost effective organization."

Keefe said Care New England has already made substantial progress in improving coordination across its system.Last fall, the Board of Directors from each of the hospitals and the VNA were unified at the system level.In addition, in the last year, system-wide committees and councils aimed at improving our overall performance and system cohesion were established.

"The move toward even greater system integration will require us to embrace a multi-organizational and multi-disciplinary approach, more fully develop needed technology and support systems, and truly capitalize on the resources and rich talents found across Care New England," continued Keefe."These new appointments and the ongoing contributions from these talented individuals will enable us to bring Care New England to its next level of excellence."

About Care New England

Care New England, located in Rhode Island, was founded in 1996 by Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Its mission is dedicated to building an exemplary health care system.With 643 licensed beds, approximately 6,880 employees, and 1,527 active medical staff members, Care New England is among Rhode Island's largest private companies.The system includes primary care and specialty physicians; two teaching hospitals affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler and Women & Infants; a community hospital, Kent; a visiting nurse and home care agency, the VNA of Care New England; and the Care New England Wellness Center. For more information, visit carenewengland.org.