Darcy Burthay, MSN, RN, has been named President and CEO of Providence Health System in Washington, D.C., part of Ascension, the nation’s largest non-profit and Catholic health system. She will assume her new duties July 1, 2016.
Since 2014 Burthay has served as Managing Director, Home Care Services, for Ascension Health, the healthcare delivery subsidiary of Ascension. She was instrumental in the development, launch and strategic direction of Ascension At Home, Ascension’s partnership with Evolution Health providing an array of post-acute services including home care, hospice care and infusion therapy in Ascension Ministry Markets. She has worked closely with leaders across the integrated national health ministry to evaluate opportunities to share resources and best practices across home care, and to focus on the growth of this service line in Ascension. She will continue to serve as a member of the Ascension At Home Board.
“Darcy is a lifelong healthcare professional and leader with a deep commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of Ascension,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Health. “She brings to Providence a strong record of achievement in helping the organizations she has served deliver compassionate, personalized care to all, especially persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.”
Before assuming her role with Home Care Services, Burthay served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer for St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, part of the Ascension Indiana Ministry Market. During her time at St. Vincent she led the organization to Magnet nursing designation, and the hospital was designated a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.
Prior to her nearly six years at St. Vincent, Burthay spent nearly 25 years with St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, in varied roles in hospital and home care leadership, including President and CEO for three years and, earlier, as Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer for seven years.
Burthay was instrumental in developing and growing St. Joseph Hospital from a 1 percent operating margin when she became the Interim President in February 2005, to an operating margin of 10 percent. At St. Joseph she led improvement in associate and physician satisfaction and assisted with development and construction of new emergency department, laboratory, outpatient rehabilitation department and on-site magnetic resonance imaging lab.
Burthay also oversaw the development and opening of the Clinic of Hope early in her career. The Clinic of Hope serves adults with no insurance by providing medical treatment and care to those in need.
Burthay achieved a Certificate in Theology from Aquinas Institute, St. Louis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Ball State University, Indiana. In 2014 Burthay served as chair of the Go Red For Women campaign of the American Heart Association. She serves on the St. Vincent Foundation Board and the Advisory Board of Orbis Education, and previously served on the Boards of Executive Women in Healthcare, the United Way of Howard County, the Kokomo YMCA and other community organizations.
Burthay replaces Duane Erwin, JD, FACHE, who has served as Interim President and CEO for Providence Health System since November 2015.
