Hamilton Health Care System (HHCS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew C. Bland, MD, to the position of vice president and chief medical officer.
Bland comes to Hamilton from The Joint Commission (TJC) where he was the medical director for the Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation. TJC accredits and certifies health care organizations and is recognized nationwide as the symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting specified performance standards.
Prior to his role with TJC, Bland was with Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) in Illinois, a 15-hospital system where he served as chief quality officer and chief medical officer among other duties. Additionally, Bland was the assistant dean for Faculty Development and associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria before joining HSHS.
Bland completed his undergraduate studies in cell and structural biology at the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts in Champaign, Ill. He then graduated with honors and was a James Scholar while obtaining his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, Ill. Bland completed combined residencies in internal medicine and pediatrics at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, followed by a fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. In addition to his extensive medical and clinical background, Bland holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst as well as a Masters of Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University in Chicago.
“Dr. Bland joins Hamilton’s long-standing commitment and dedication to providing the highest quality healthcare for the communities we serve,” said Jeff Myers, chief executive officer and president of Hamilton Health Care System. “We are pleased to have Andy join our leadership as we continue to grow and expand our services. The unique skillset which he brings to the team, including a diverse and extensive background in clinical practice, quality and healthcare business management, will be a significant asset to furthering the objectives of our quality, safety and strategic development initiatives.”
Bland and his wife, Angela, say they are excited to be relocating to the area and are looking forward to becoming an active part of the local community.
With locations across four counties in northwest Georgia, Hamilton Health Care System is a not for profit, fully united system of care. Known for its advanced care and personalized service, Hamilton Health Care System offers innovative treatment options in state-of-the-art facilities while maintaining a compassionate, friendly and tranquil healing environment. The most recent addition of the system, which opened April 1, is the Anna Shaw Children’s Institute, providing care for children who are experiencing the challenges of autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or developmental delays.
The Dalton-based flagship of the system, Hamilton Medical Center (HMC), is a 282-bed regional acute-care hospital that offers major medical, surgical and diagnostic services, including award-winning, accredited stroke and chest pain centers. Peeples Cancer Institute, which will provide cancer care under one roof, will open in the fall of this year.
HMC was recently named a Top Hospital by Georgia Trend Magazine. Additionally, CareChex® has ranked Hamilton Medical Center in the top 10 percent in the nation in seven categories for 2018. In the Medical Excellence group, the recognized categories include: Overall Hospital Care, Overall Medical Care, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Orthopedic Care. In the Patient Safety group, the recognized categories included Cancer Care, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pneumonia Care.
