Evergreen Names New COO

Neil Johnson, a nurse and senior executive of a Kalamazoo, Mich., healthcare group, Friday was named vice president and chief operating officer at Kirkland’s Evergreen Hospital Medical Center.

Johnson, 42, has extensive experience in trauma and emergency services and began management and administration work in 1998 at Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis.   

At Evergreen, he’ll be responsible for clinical operations, including nursing and professional services, and home health and hospice services. He was picked from a field of strong candidates, Evergreen said, because of his experience and dedication to patients and staff.

Johnson was the vice president of patient care services and chief nurse executive at Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo. He served as Bronson’s executive director of nursing prior to being named vice president in May of 2008. 

“Neil will bring outstanding leadership skills and experience from one of the country’s most highly regarded health care systems,” said Bob Malte, Evergreen chief executive officer. “Neil played an instrumental role when Bronson Healthcare was designated as a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence.”

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Hanover College, a Bachelor of Science, Nursing from Indiana University and a Masters in Science Administration from Central Michigan University.