Russell Baxley joined Beaufort Memorial Hospital as President & Chief Executive Officer on September 12, 2016. Prior to that, he was CEO for Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lancaster, Pa., a 213-bed hospital that includes an inpatient psychiatric hospital; cancer, heart and orthopedic programs; multiple surgical specialties; an employed physician group with more than 100 providers; and a telemedicine program, among other services.
Since Joining Beaufort Memorial, Mr. Baxley has led many initiatives to expand access to and improve the quality of care provided to the community. Under his leadership, Beaufort Memorial has constructed two state of the art cancer centers, a 70,000 square-foot medical office facility in Okatie, S. C., opened three urgent care clinics to serve Beaufort County, developed the BMH Care Anywhere telehealth app offering access to 24/7 video visits for urgent care, and reopened a beautifully renovated birthing center. Services have grown to include advanced orthopedics and spine care, robotic-assisted joint replacements, elective (non-emergent) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), and enhanced mental health services with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). His collaborative community outreach has resulted in partnerships with Publix to include telehealth kiosks in four of their Beaufort County grocery stores, Amedisys Home Health to provide in-home care, and local educational institutions to develop and provide on-site clinical education and workforce development. Mr. Baxley has also helped to recruit more than 40 primary care and specialty physicians and advanced practice providers to the area.
A nod to efforts around quality care during his tenure, Beaufort Memorial has been recognized with the highest accreditation available from The Joint Commission for Hip and Knee Replacement, several “A” safety ratings from the Leapfrog Group as well as being named one of the top 30 general acute care hospitals in the nation for quality and patient safety.
A Johnsonville, S.C., native, Mr. Baxley received his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Clemson University and his Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of South Carolina. He has held roles as chief operating officer, assistant chief financial officer and director of development in small- and mid-size hospitals in both South Carolina and Texas, including Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, S.C., and Paris Regional Medical Center in Paris, Texas. He has also served as director of operations and finance for a large family medicine practice and medical spa in Columbia, S.C.
Mr. Baxley is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been actively involved in community and professional organizations and activities throughout his career. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Beaufort with their young son.
