Presbyterian elevates Dale Maxwell to CEO
He’ll face uncertain future of Obamacare
Dale Maxwell, who has been with Presbyterian Healthcare Services for 16 years, has been named the organization’s new president and CEO.
Maxwell, who has been interim CEO since the departure of Jim Hinton late last year, joined the not-for-profit PHS in 2000. He will assume leadership responsibilities for the health system, which has 12,000 employees, eight hospitals across the state, a new medical center on the way in Santa Fe and a medical group with more than 800 providers. Presbyterian also operates a for-profit health plan with 460,000 members.
Maxwell previously worked as Presbyterian’s vice president and chief administrative officer with oversight of finance, data and analytics and information technology. He was chief financial officer for the Presbyterian system, CFO for the health plan and chief operating officer of Presbyterian’s medical group.
“The board took our responsibility very seriously to find a leader with the right experience to lead Presbyterian into the future,” said Kathie Winograd, chairwoman of the board and president of Central New Mexico Community College. “Dale has extensive experience with an integrated health-care model, a strong leadership style and an unwavering commitment to improving the health of the people we serve.”
Maxwell said he looks forward to building on the successful foundation laid by Hinton, who led the organization for 21 years, and now runs Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas — the largest not-for-profit health-care system in Texas and one of the largest in the country.
Maxwell, who grew up in Silver City, said he was destined for a health-care career. His father was a hospital administrator, and his mother worked as a nurse. Continuing in the family tradition is Maxwell’s 21-yearold daughter, who is studying to be a physical therapist in San Diego.
Maxwell, who earned a bachelor of accountancy degree from New Mexico State University and a master of health-care administration degree from Seton Hall University in New Jersey, will have his work cut out for him.
Dealing with the uncertainties of the pending repeal and/ or replacement of the Affordable Care Act will be a critical area of concern for the organization. Many of its health-plan members are Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Expansion of Medicaid eligibility meant that Presbyterian had a chance to sign up many of its uninsured patients and get some reimbursement for their care.