Small-format hospital developer and operator Emerus has appointed Dan Hernandez as the CEO of its hospital system WellSpan Health Market.
Hernandez will work in collaboration with Operations-East division senior vice-president David Maxwell.
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He will transition to Emerus from Lehigh Valley Health Network, where he was a family and internal medicine administrator.
His previous experience includes a role as executive administrator for emergency services at UPMC. In this position, he managed finances, operations, and patient experience across a network comprising four observation units, seven emergency departments, 16 urgent care locations, and an EMS agency.
Emerus chief operating officer Vanessa Smith said: “We are thrilled to welcome Dan Hernandez to the Emerus leadership team.
“His extensive background in healthcare administration, coupled with his leadership experience in both civilian and military settings, aligns perfectly with our mission to provide accessible, high-quality care to communities across the nation.”
WellSpan collaborates with Emerus under a joint venture agreement, and its acute care facilities deliver in-patient and emergency services to the residents of central Pennsylvania, US.
In July 2024, Emerus and WellSpan broke ground on a new hospital in Newberry Township, Pennsylvania. The facility operates throughout the year, with an emergency department and ten inpatient beds.
WellSpan also began construction on the WellSpan Shrewsbury Hospital last April.
The companies plan to open WellSpan Newberry Hospital, WellSpan Carlisle Hospital, and WellSpan Shrewsbury Hospital together in early 2026.
Emerus partners with health systems to offer a healthcare delivery model through cost-effective hospitals. Its network offers acute, inpatient, and ambulatory clinical services to communities across the country.
