Vincent C. Caponi, CEO of St.Vincent Health and Ascension Health Ministry Market Leader for Indiana, will transition to new roles as senior vice president at Ascension Health Alliance and as the executive chairman of the board for St.Vincent Health. This transition will be effective on July 1, 2013.
Since 1998, Caponi has developed the St.Vincent Health ministry to a 22-hospital system, and one of Indiana’s largest employers. He oversaw the integration of eight critical access hospitals; St.Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital; St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana; St.Vincent Women’s Hospital; and a multi-specialty physician group into the comprehensive health organization. In addition, he added Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent; St.Vincent Fishers Hospital; St. Mary’s Health System in Evansville; trauma services at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital; multiple joint ventures; hospital expansions; and affiliations with health providers and community partners. Most recently, Caponi stewarded a partnership between St.Vincent Health, Community Health Network and six hospitals that are part of the Suburban Health Organization (SHO) to create the Accountable Care Consortium (ACC).
Through his work with Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system, Caponi was named Ministry Market Leader for Indiana in 2007 and for the State of Wisconsin in 2011.
In 2012, Caponi’s leadership contributed to St.Vincent Health being identified in the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: 15 Top Health Systems study as one of 15 best health systems in the nation. The faith-based health system was the only one in Indiana and the Midwest to be honored in the large health system group.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the St.Vincent Health system and serve patients and families across Indiana, and I look forward to providing support in my new capacity at the board level,” said Caponi. “Through the dedication of our physicians and associates, we have remained unwavering to our calling of delivering compassionate care with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. As the national healthcare environment requires transformational change, I look forward to working with the Ascension Health Alliance to simplify our systems, standardize our clinical processes, and ensure that medical information is provided at the right time and the right place for patients.”
By adhering to the tradition of the founding Daughters of Charity, Caponi led the 132-year-old health system to increase its charity care and community benefit totals to more than $197 million in fiscal year 2012.
Prior to joining St.Vincent Health, he served as president and chief executive officer at St.Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, AL. Earlier in his career, Caponi was president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph Hospital in Augusta, GA, and the administrator of United Memorial Hospital in Greenville, MI. He was also assistant administrator of the Memorial Hospital in Owosso, MI.
Caponi holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University. He serves on boards for Xavier University, Choice Trust, Little Sisters of the Poor, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Indiana Hospital Association, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Caponi is past board member for the Boy Scouts of America, and former chairman of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and the United Way of Central Indiana. In addition, he is actively involved with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Ian Worden, chief operating officer for St.Vincent Health, will serve as interim CEO. In addition, Michael H. Schatzlein, MD, president and CEO of Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, TN and Ascension Health Ministry Market Leader for Tennessee, will assume Ministry Market Leader responsibilities for Indiana.