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James Maki Appointed As Chief Executive Officer of Valley Health System

Posted on: Friday, 26 August 2005, 15:01 CDT

Valley Health System's board of directors announced today that James Maki has been appointed as Valley Health System's chief executive officer, effective Sept. 26, 2005. Maki currently serves as chief operating officer at Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park, Calif.

"Jim Maki comes to us with a breadth of knowledge and experience," said Darren Magness, chairman of the board of directors. "He possesses the type of experience Valley Health System needs in these particularly challenging times Valley Health System and the entire health care community is experiencing."

Maki served as COO of Garfield Medical Center from 2003 until the present. The for-profit hospital has two medical office buildings, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an outpatient prenatal clinic, and provides acute services that includes open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, and rehabilitation services. He was successful in achieving consistent, significant net earnings in both years. Annual net revenues generated 14 percent net earnings.

"I am confident that Jim has what it takes to lead Valley Health System to better times," said Geoffrey Lang, interim chief executive officer. "He has shown his dedication to the communities he serves, and he will foster innovative and creative strategies to ensure quality health care."

Maki was CEO of East Valley Hospital Medical Center (formerly Huntington East Valley Hospital and Glendora Community Hospital) from 1994 to 2003. The hospital was much like Valley Health System's facilities with a local community board of directors. The hospital provided general acute care that included a geriatric-psychiatric unit. While there, he restructured the existing debt to avoid default. He initiated the hospital's performance improvement process in eight months to prepare for a successful Joint Commission Association of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) survey.

"Valley Health System has captured my passion," said Maki. "In the interview process, I met dedicated health care professionals and community members who make up the Valley Health System family. They have the expertise and the commitment it will take to lead the System back to financial health and ensure high-quality continuing care. I am fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to lead them, and I look forward to working with them."

Fifty-four-year-old Maki received his Masters of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of Minnesota, and holds a Business Administration and Sociology (BA) from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn. He also earned certification with the American College of Healthcare Executives as a Diplomate.

Maki also served as CEO of Desert Vista Hospital in Mesa, Ariz., from 1992 to 1993, a facility of the for-profit Ramsay Health Care. While there, he developed three satellite out-patient centers. He also reduced accounts receivable by 50 percent and collected $2 million in outstanding revenue in seven months.

As chief operating officer (COO) of Tucson General Hospital from 1990 to 1992, Maki achieved a major financial turnaround, increasing admissions by 15 percent, newborn deliveries by 475 percent, and emergency visits by 18 percent. Gross revenues increased by 31 percent. He also re-engineered the entire quality assurance program in 10 months.

Early in his career, he was CEO of a hospital district in Truckee, Calif.

He and his wife, Marilyn, are active in the community as well as professional organizations. He currently lives in Claremont with his wife and one son: Robert, a junior in high school. Three grown children include: Aaron, living in Ontario; Heather, in graduate school; and Paul in Minneapolis.

Valley Health System is a California local health care district comprised of a skilled nursing facility, sub-acute unit, chemical dependence unit, and three acute care hospitals: Hemet Valley Medical Center, Menifee Valley Medical Center, and Moreno Valley Community Hospital.

Source: Business Wire

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