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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: ENE at 5 mph Monday, May 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 16, 2003 Former RVMC chief takes job in Portland Jon Mitchell is named CEO of a new organization set up to improve health-care quality for Medicare and Medicaid patients By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune The man who led Rogue Valley Medical Center through most of the 1990s will move north to take the reins of a regional health-care improvement organization. Jon Mitchell has been named president and chief executive officer of Oregon Medicare Professional Review Organization. Based in Portland, OMPRO works to improve the quality of health care for Medicare and Medicaid patients in Oregon and to eliminate disparities in care in federally funded health programs. Mitchell will leave Southern Oregon University, where he has served for the past three years as vice president of university relations. "I’m very much excited," said Mitchell, 57, of his return to health care. "There’s no question it will be a challenge." Since 1984, OMPRO has worked with Medicare beneficiaries, health care professionals and the public to prevent the underuse, overuse or misuse of Medicare resources. The nonprofit organization also consults with private health care providers to improve delivery of health care; maintains a toll-free help line for Oregon Medicare beneficiaries; and produces information materials to help newly enrolled Medicare patients learn to navigate the complex federal health-care system. Mitchell’s "vast experience" working with physicians, hospitals and insurers made him the right choice to head OMPRO, said Dr. Michael Kaempf, chairman of OMPRO’s physician- led board of trustees. He will supervise a staff of about 50 that includes physicians, nurses and researchers. Mitchell worked for 25 years in health care administration before moving to SOU. Under his leadership, Rogue Valley Medical Center bought Southern Oregon Medical Center and created an alliance with Josephine Memorial Hospital, both in Grants Pass. In 1996 he helped form Asante Health System as a nonprofit corporation to oversee RVMC and its other subsidiaries. Jim Wright, board chairman of Asante Health System, praised Mitchell’s ability to perceive emerging challenges and act to meet them. "He can see a vision, and he can put it into motion," said Wright, who worked with Mitchell during RVMC’s transformation into Asante. "Jon was at Asante when our transition started and Jon helped us through." Wright said Mitchell’s ability to work collaboratively will serve him well in an organization that deals predominantly with the federal health-care system. "If there’s one thing we need in health care, it’s collaboration." Mitchell became one of Oregon’s youngest chief hospital administrators in 1975, when he led Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay at the age of 29. He also served as chief executive officer of Empire Health Services in Spokane, Wash. He said one of his first tasks will be to schedule meetings with U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith to talk with them about Medicare and Medicaid services in Oregon. He plans to leave the Rogue Valley no later than mid-May to begin his new job. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S