CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System (CSRHS) announced today that it has named Patrick B. Carrier as its new president and chief executive officer, replacing Don A. Beeler, FACHE, who retired on January 29, 2010. Carrier will assume his new role effective March 1, 2010. “It is truly an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve our ministry in San Antonio, and I am looking forward to building on this ministry’s strong foundation, working together with our Associates, physicians, volunteers, and community partners,” Carrier said.

Carrier comes to CSRHS from the CHRISTUS Health Gulf Coast region, where he has served as president and C.E.O. since 2003. His responsibilities were further expanded in September of 2009 when he accepted the additional role as president and C.E.O. for CHRISTUS Continuing Care.

Carrier’s extensive administrative experience in health care spans 32 years. He has a proven track record building collaborative relationships with physicians, the community, and other health care providers. CSRHS Chairman of the Board Clarence R. “Reggie” Williams said of Carrier’s appointment, “Pat brings an incredible breadth and depth of experience in health care which will serve our ministry well as we continue to build on our 140 year legacy of service in San Antonio and South-Central Texas.”

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa has experienced remarkable growth over the last few years to include acquisition of the former McKenna Memorial Hospital, now CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-New Braunfels, opening of a new 150-bed hospital in the fast-growing Westover Hills community in far west San Antonio, and acquisition of a majority interest in five outpatient surgery centers. At the same time, CSRHS has maintained a consistent focus on quality and has been recognized by HealthGrades®, the independent hospital rating company, as a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence for six years in a row and as one America’s Best 50 Hospitals.

According to Ernie Sadau, CHRISTUS Health’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, “Throughout his career, Pat has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing excellent service and quality care to all those we are privileged to serve. He will bring energy and vision to our ministry assuring that it will continue to thrive for years to come.”

About CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System:
Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic faith-based, non-profit health and wellness ministry dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. As one of the top health care organizations in South Texas, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa has four hospital campuses, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital City Centre located in downtown San Antonio, in the South Texas Medical Center, in New Braunfels, and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio’s first children’s hospital, an academic teaching facility affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In July 2009, we extended our ministry to the fast-growing Westover Hills community with the opening of the area’s first full-service hospital. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System also owns a majority interest in CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Centers – San Antonio, LLC, a joint venture physician partnership which is comprised of four outpatient surgery facilities in San Antonio including Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, and in the Medical Center area. Additionally, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System owns a majority interest in the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Center in New Braunfels joint venture physician partnership. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is one of only two hospitals in Texas and the only one in San Antonio to receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ six years in a row and to be named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades®. It is also the preferred health system of the San Antonio SPURS. For additional information on CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, visit www.christussantarosa.org