VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE), has brought up from its ranks three new executive leaders. Meanwhile, its parent company Chemed has named a new CFO.
As of 2020, Miami-based VITAS is the nation’s largest hospice provider by market share, operating 50 locations in 14 states. Through the third quarter of 2023, the company’s 10,443 employees cared for 19,047 patients daily.
The company is set to announce on Monday that three of its long-time employees are moving into new leadership positions.
Patty Husted, EVP, patient and family supportive services
Patty Husted has been with VITAS for 34 years, serving in several leadership roles, the company reported.
She joined the company as an inpatient unit nurse in 1989. Most recently, she was VITAS’ executive VP of operations. Now, she is transitioning to executive vice president of patient and family supportive services.
In her new position, Husted will oversee the company’s volunteer and bereavement programs, working to improve the patient and family experience and foster growth.
“Since joining the organization, Patty has made significant contributions to VITAS and has had a tremendously positive impact on how we deliver patient and family care with excellence,” said Nick Westfall, president and CEO of VITAS, in a statement shared with Hospice News. “She is a role model of our VITAS values, with ‘patients and families come first’ at the forefront of everything she does. Patty’s passion and commitment to our patients, their families, our employees, hospice care and VITAS are exceptional.”
Jennifer Nygaard, SVP, operations
Jennifer Nygaard, currently vice president of operations and special projects for VITAS, has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for the northern and central regions of Florida, where the company has a large presence.
A 26-year veteran at VITAS, Nygaard will oversee hospice locations in close to a dozen county and major metropolitan markets, including the Orlando area, Jacksonville, Pensacola and Brevard County, among several others.
She joined the company in 1997 as an admissions coordinator. She has also previously served as general manager and senior general manager in several Florida markets.
Mark Hayes, SVP, operations
Mark Hayes, vice president of operations, is stepping up as the company’s new senior VP of operations for the southern region of Florida, covering eight Florida counties, the Treasure Coast Region and Atlanta, Georgia.
Hayes has been with VITAS for 10 years and previously served as a general manager in Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta. In 2021, he received the VITAS Region of the Year award, as well as several other company awards over multiple years.
Chemed CFO David Williams retiring
Changes are also coming to the executive team at VITAS’ parent company, Chemed, which also owns the plumbing company Roto Rooter. CFO David Williams will retire effective Dec. 31.
Williams came to Chemed in 1990 as vice president of finance for The Omnia Group, a former subsidiary that manufactured medical and dental products, and went on to serve in a number of other leadership roles at Chemed and its subsidiaries.
Chemed’s board named Williams the parent company’s vice president and CFO in March 2004. In August 2007, he was promoted to executive vice president of Chemed, while retaining his CFO position.
“It has been a privilege to work with David as an integral part of our management team for these last three decades,” said Chemed Chief Executive Officer, Kevin McNamara. “David has done a fantastic job building and leading our financial organization and is leaving it very well-positioned to move forward.”
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