FLINT, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McLaren Health Care has selected Michael McKenna, M.D., as chief medical officer to help manage key functions, including the creation, measurement and oversight of initiatives that enhance and integrate clinical quality, ensure patient safety and satisfaction, and promote physician engagement.
“Dr. McKenna is a tremendous addition to our team,” said Phil Incarnati, president and CEO of McLaren Health Care. “In recent years, McLaren Health Care has expanded exponentially and now includes more than 21,000 network physician partners. The time was right to introduce a chief medical officer to our leadership at the system level. Dr. McKenna brings more than 20 years of experience in medical management to this new position and will only reinforce McLaren’s status as a health care system that provides excellent clinical care and superior patient experiences.”
In collaboration with other clinical and administrative leaders at McLaren Health Care, Dr. McKenna will provide clinical guidance and input that will inform systemwide strategic-planning processes. More specifically, he will recommend, develop and supervise the implementation of objectives, plans and policies designed to improve clinical outcomes, integrate clinical care, promote the practice of evidence-based medicine, and establish a single standard of care across the McLaren system. In addition to these duties, he will work to institute and ensure best practices and oversee physician engagement initiatives.
“It’s an honor to join McLaren Health Care,” said Dr. McKenna. “I’m passionate about what I believe constitutes an exceptional health care system, including top-ranking clinical performances and outcomes, superb patient experiences, and outstanding physician and employee engagement. I’m certain my past experiences developing and implementing medical management strategies will help to reinforce the standardization of quality across the entire McLaren system, which already has an exceptional reputation when it comes to providing excellent health care.”
Prior to joining McLaren, Dr. McKenna served as vice president, medical management, at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Lutheran General Children’s Hospital (located in Park Ridge, Ill.), affiliates of Advocate Health Care. Advocate Health Care, named among the nation’s top-five largest health systems based on quality by Truven Analytics, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. With Dr. McKenna’s contributions, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital earned a No. 1 ranking in physician satisfaction and appeared on the Truven Health Analytics list of 100 Top Hospitals.
Dr. McKenna has occupied several medical management positions at Advocate Health Care that span from 1988 to 2013. In addition to his most recent position there, he served as vice president, medical management, of Home Healthcare Division; vice president, clinical excellence and medical management, at Good Samaritan Hospital; and regional vice president for medical management, central region.
Additional experience includes starting Midwest Digestive Disease Specialists, a successful gastroenterology group, of which Dr. McKenna remained a partner for 28 years. He has held medical education positions, too, including assistant dean for Chicago Medical School at Lutheran General Hospital and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine.
Dr. McKenna earned his medical degree at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine and completed an internship, residency and fellowship in conjunction with this same institution. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University.
Dr. McKenna and his wife, Susan, have four adult children and will relocate to the area of Clarkston, Mich.
About McLaren Health Care
With headquarters in Flint, Mich., McLaren Health Care is annually recognized as one of the top integrated health networks in the nation. McLaren is one of the largest health care providers in the state with a system that reaches more than half of Michigan residents through more than 200 locations, 17,400 employees and 21,000 network physicians. McLaren Health Care had net revenues of $2.5 billion in 2012 and has achieved double-digit growth each year since 1989. The nonprofit system includes medical centers in Bay City, Flint, Lapeer, Lansing, Mount Clemens, Mount Pleasant, Petoskey and Pontiac. Additional health care services are provided at McLaren Clarkston; McLaren Bay Special Care in Bay City; McLaren Orthopedic Hospital in Lansing; and McLaren Proton Therapy Center in Flint . McLaren Health Care also operates McLaren Medical Group, an employed physician network; McLaren Homecare Group, an award-winning home health, hospice and medical supplies provider; McLaren Health Plan, a licensed HMO offering benefit plans for commercial businesses and Medicaid recipients; and McLaren Cancer Institute, the largest cancer care network of its kind in the state. For more information, visit mclaren.org.
