Aiken Times

Former CEO Jim O'Loughlin (left) and new CEO Matthew Merrifield

Aiken Regional Medical Centers is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Merrifield to Chief Executive Officer, effective August 15, 2022.

Merrifield returns to Aiken Regional after two years with Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, a Universal Health Services (UHS) 485-bed acute care facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Aiken Regional for four years. “I’m excited to rejoin the Aiken Regional team and return to the Aiken Community,” said Merrifield. “I look forward to building upon the expansion and achievements the team has accomplished in the past few years as we continue to focus on patient-centered care and expanding services and programs throughout Aiken and our surrounding communities.”

In this role, Merrifield is responsible for driving the growth and performance of the hospital, as well as providing strategic direction and oversight to help ensure the highest quality of patient care and safety. He is also responsible for driving growth among service lines and cultivating relationships with community leaders and businesses.

Merrifield has more than 12 years of experience in healthcare leadership. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University. Merrifield and his wife and family are delighted to return to Aiken where they enjoy volunteering.

Merrifield succeeds Jim O’Loughlin who is retiring from Aiken Regional Medical Centers after having served as CEO since 2019. With nearly 30 years of hospital leadership, O’Loughlin played an integral role in helping expand Aiken Regional’s service lines, enhance technologies offered and recruit advanced physicians, and helping Aiken Regional receive several quality and safety awards and achieve operational success. We thank Jim for his dedicated leadership and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

“I’m grateful for the time I’ve had in Aiken and with the Aiken Regional team,” said O’Loughlin. “This hospital and community have been my home for the past 3.5 years and I want to thank each of you for providing me the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful team, and I look forward to the amazing growth and opportunities you have ahead. I’m honored that Matt will be stepping into this role and am confident he is going to make a great CEO.”

O’Loughlin is scheduled to retire at the start of September and return to Jacksonville, Florida. O’Loughlin and Merrifield will work alongside one another through the transition.

Original source can be found here.