Scott & White Healthcare creates new chief nursing executive position-

TEMPLE, Texas - Scott & White Healthcare has named Gail O. VanZyl, R.N., B.S.N., to the newly-created position of Chief Nurse Executive.

“This addition to Scott & White’s leadership is an important step in elevating nursing’s organizational presence and influence,” said Alfred B. Knight, M.D., president and CEO of Scott & White Healthcare. “Gail VanZyl is uniquely qualified to represent nursing’s interest in the coordination, collaboration and standardization of quality care throughout all of Scott & White’s clinics and hospitals,” he said.

The new position is also a response to Scott & White’s recent growth and role in providing greater access to quality health care in Central Texas.

“This move will help us continue to provide quality health care to our patients, and to inject the nursing perspective into the operations of the Scott & White network of hospitals and clinics throughout Central Texas,” said Knight. “This new position helps demonstrate Scott & White’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing nursing’s place on the health care team,” he said.

VanZyl joined Scott & White in 2006 as executive director of quality, safety and regulatory services. In that role, she led a major push to halt the spread of MRSA, so-called super bugs, by helping to implement testing of all patients admitted to Scott & White’s hospitals.

VanZyl has also served as executive director of quality and risk servces at Oregon Health Services University Hospital and Clincs in Portland, Ore.; director of quality management and infection control at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Portland, Ore.; and director of quality and risk management at Albany General Hospital and Clinics. In additon to a Bachelors degree in nursing, VanZyl’s professional certifications include Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Certified Nursing Administration and Certified Critical Care Nursing. She is a member of the National Association of Healthcare Quality Professionals, the Texas Association of Healthcare Quality Professionals and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. She resides in Salado, Texas.

For more information, contact:

Judith Curtis Kuempel
Scott & White Healthcare

Media and Public Relations

254-724-4097
512-466-1929

jkuempel@swmail.sw.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2009