Covenant Health Regional President and CEO Richard Parks announced Tuesday (Aug. 2) the hiring of Robert (Bob) Copeland, MHA, FACHE as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Covenant Health Plainview.
Copeland assumed interim CEO duties on April 4. He replaced Clay Taylor, who accepted another role at Covenant Children’s.
“Bob has done a remarkable job during his interim role with us,” Parks said. “I am thankful to find a person of his experience, but also a man of faith who reflects our values.”
Parks said that while he and the Plainview CEO search committee conducted a national search for the position and interviewed several commendable candidates, Copeland was the most outstanding and equally impressed the committee, the Plainview Board, the physicians, co-workers and the community. Copeland also feels ready for the assignment.
“While the challenges in healthcare today are intense, I am excited and thrilled to be a part of this outstanding community and the wonderful ministry of Covenant,” Copeland said. “I am pleased to work with a great group of co-workers, physicians and volunteers who are passionate about their work and who strive on a daily basis to strengthen the healthcare services in Plainview.”
Copeland also brings his wife, Becky and their 14-year old daughter to Plainview.
“I am certain they also will find the community to be the place I have come to know,” Parks said. “Plainview is a caring community with solid and engaged residents in the success and support of our Plainview hospital.”
Before coming to Covenant, Copeland most recently served as president/regional vice president of Mercy Hospital in Carthage, Mo. His topmost accomplishment was his leadership in planning, constructing and moving into a new state-of- the-art replacement facility. The new facility allowed for greater access to health care services in Carthage. It was through a strong relationship Copeland built with Mercy following the devastating 2011 Joplin tornado that ultimately led Mercy to acquiring McCune Brooks Hospital.
After earning his bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma, Copeland later earned his Masters of Healthcare Administration degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo.
He has received numerous honors and awards including: the Distinguished Service Award by ACHE and the Missouri Healthcare Executives Group; Missouri Impact Award for Excellence in Healthcare Process Improvement; Healthcare Hero Award; ACHE Senior Level Healthcare Executive Missouri Regent’s Award; and President’s Achievement Award presented by the Federation of American Health Systems.
(News release from Covenant Health)