Contributed photo by Erlanger Health System / Robert J. MaloneyChattanooga's biggest hospital has hired a veteran hospital manager who has experience building business and cutting costs to serve as its No. 2 executive.
Robert J. Maloney, 20-year hospital manager who has served in key leadership roles at hospitals in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia, joined Erlanger Health System on Monday as the hospital's chief operating officer. Maloney fills the void at Erlanger created in August 2019 when Rob Brooks left Erlanger after serving for six years as executive vice president and chief operating officer under then-president Kevin Spiegel, who left Erlanger shortly after Brooks resigned suddenly.
Maloney most recently served as chief operating officer at Mercy Health Anderson in Cincinnati, Ohio which is part of the Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) hospital system. During his tenure at the 282-bed hospital, Maloney helped lead the hospital to a 65% year-over-year admissions increase in rehabilitation services while decreasing overall hospital expenses by $3.7 million in a single year utilizing the improvement team concept.
"I am extremely pleased to welcome Rob after an exhaustive and thorough search process," Erlanger CEO William Jackson said in a statement Monday. "We took our time and endeavored to find a candidate with the right experience, drive and fit for Erlanger."
Prior to taking on his former role in the BSMH hospital system, Maloney was the chief operating officer at Frankfort Regional Medical Center in Frankfort, Kentucky. Previously, he served as vice president of operations for Hospital Corporation of America's LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, and also served in multiple leadership and operational positions in home health, rehabilitation facilities and hospitals.
Maloney earned his bachelor of science in exercise science from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. He then went on to earn an MBA from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama.
"Rob understands the value of our community's essential non-profit hospital system, and he knows the indispensable role our associates have in driving our mission," Jackson said.
Last year, Erlanger trustees dismissed former CEO Kevin Spiegel, who had expanded the revenues and size of Erlanger to make it Chattanooga's biggest employer with more than 7,000 employees and nearly $1.1 billion in revenues.
But last year Erlanger lost $8.9 million and has an underfunded pension plan. Under Jackson, Erlanger has cut dozens of its managers and trimmed its overall employment to about 6,600 workers.
Erlanger is home to the region's only academic medical center, Level 1 trauma center and children's hospital. It's the 10th largest public health system in the country.