Rideout Health's chief nursing officer has been promoted to chief operating officer for the area's largest nonprofit health care provider, CEO Gino Patrizio announced Tuesday.
Melissa Burns, who has been in her current position since September 2014, will be second-in-command in Rideout's administration and report directly to Patrizio. She will fill the position held by Patrizio prior to his taking over as CEO last November.
As chief nursing officer, Burns was responsible for leading and managing the practice and education of Rideout's 800-plus nurses and aides. As COO, she will oversee the operation of Rideout Memorial Hospital and Fremont Medical Center, Feather River Surgery Center and the Marysville Cancer Center.
Prior to joining Rideout, Burns spent eight years with Southwest Heathcare System in southern California. She was chief nursing officer of Inland Valley Medical Center from 2013 until coming to Rideout.
Patrizio credited Burns with being a key member of Rideout's executive team that developed a correction plan which restored the hospital's status as a Medicare provider.