Saint Luke’s Health System Consolidates Leadership of Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital

Saint Luke’s Health System announced today Elmore Patterson will begin serving as Administrator for both Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital. The change, effective August 1, will replicate the highly successful model of hospital management implemented in Saint Luke’s northern Missouri market in 2018.

“Elmore has already proven himself to be an excellent leader during his time at Allen County Regional Hospital,” said Steve Schieber, FACMPE, FACHE, Saint Luke’s Critical Access Region CEO. “He has spent significant time familiarizing himself with Saint Luke’s, the physicians, staff, and services at both Allen County and Anderson County, and has become an integral part of the Iola community. I am excited to work closely with him as he assumes this additional leadership role.”

Patterson joined Saint Luke’s Health System in 2020 as Administrator for Allen County Regional Hospital.

“These changes mirror an operational model implemented three years ago at Hedrick Medical Center (HMC) in Chillicothe and Wright Memorial Hospital (WMH) in Trenton, our two Missouri Critical Access Hospitals,” said Schieber. “Both facilities have thrived under the new model which has resulted in greater clinical and operational consistency through the appointment and leadership of a single administrator. In addition, it has led to increased employee engagement and patient satisfaction at both hospitals.”

Schieber noted the strategic decision to manage both facilities under single leadership offered multiple benefits to patients, providers and employees of Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital. Single executive oversight creates efficiencies that supports the delivery of a more consistent patient experience, improves the ability to recruit and retain physicians, optimizes services, and offers greater professional growth opportunities for hospital staff.

Rich McKain, who had been serving as Anderson County Hospital administrator since 2016, will leave his role at ACH to focus exclusively on his responsibilities overseeing Saint Luke’s Health System’s radiology and outpatient imaging services.

“We are incredibly grateful to Rich for his dedication to ACH and to the community,” said Schieber. “While he’ll be missed, we know he’ll continue to make a significant impact leading radiology for Saint Luke’s in a full-time capacity.”

Saint Luke’s Health System consists of 16 area hospitals and campuses as well as dozens of primary and specialty care practices, and provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.