Alexandria, LA – Vernon Jones II, has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of Rapides Healthcare System (RHS), which includes Rapides Regional Medical Center.
Jones served as interim CEO since January, originally serving as chief operating officer since August 2020. Prior to RRMC, Jones served as associate COO at Medical City Fort Worth in Texas and worked at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans and Ochsner Heath Center in Baton Rouge.
“Vernon has a proven track record of strategic leadership with focus on growth, physician collaboration and a mission-driven commitment to delivering life-improving healthcare to patients and families,” says Allen Harrison, president of HCA Healthcare North Texas Division. “I’m confident he will help lead Rapides Regional Medical Center to the next level of excellence.”
The CEO search committee made up of RHS executive board members, medical staff representatives and Rapides Regional Medical Center representatives, made the decision after considering Jones’ excellent work as interim CEO and his strategic vision for RRMC’s future.
“We are pleased to have Vernon Jones as the new CEO at Rapides Regional Medical Center,” said Joe Rosier, chairman of the Rapides Healthcare System Board. “Vernon brings an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of the hospital, having served as chief operating officer since 2020. We have confidence the hospital and the community will benefit from his experience and leadership.”
Jones graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and from the University of New Orleans with a master’s in health care management. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a graduate of the HCA Executive Development Program.