Effective February 15, 2011, Caponi’s new market includes Columbia St. Mary’s Health System in Milwaukee, which is comprised of three hospitals, 65 community clinics, the Columbia College of Nursing, a partnership with the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin, and five urgent care centers.
“Ministry Market Leaders provide us with the agility and flexibility to adjust to the ever-changing healthcare environment,” said Robert J. Henkel, FACHE, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer for Ascension Health. “We are pleased to have Vince serve as Indiana and Wisconsin Ministry Market Leader. Vince’s leadership will further improve the ability of our Health Ministries to serve their communities, carry out our Mission, and help us achieve our Strategic Direction, which calls for us to transform healthcare by 2020.”
The Ministry Market Leader concept creates opportunities to deal with each geographic area’s unique challenges and opportunities. The approach is part of Ascension Health’s distributed leadership model, and ensures a continued vital presence in all communities that are served by the national health system.
“As Indiana Ministry Market Leader, I’ve had the opportunity to create synergies across the state for our Health Ministries,” said Caponi. “I am humbled to serve and address the unique healthcare needs of patients and families throughout Wisconsin, and share best practices that have been effective across Ascension Health.”
Caponi’s expanded responsibilities include developing Wisconsin market strategies and identifying best practices to build on the quality care throughout Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Sheboygan counties.
Throughout Caponi’s more than 12 years at St.Vincent Health, he has led the integration of six critical access hospitals, Saint John’s Health System in Anderson, the St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana, St.Vincent Women’s Hospital and a primary care network into the comprehensive health organization. Also, he oversaw the addition of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent, St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, St.Vincent Medical Center Northeast in Fishers, and multiple joint ventures, program developments, hospital expansions, and affiliations with health providers and community partners.
Most recently, Caponi jointly led the creation of St.Vincent Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician group of primary care and specialty health providers, and the addition of trauma services at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital.
Under the direction of Caponi, the faith-based hospital system has increased its charity care and community benefit totals to more than $179 million in fiscal year 2010.
Prior to joining St.Vincent Health, he served as president and chief executive officer at St.Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. Earlier in his career, Caponi served as president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph Hospital in Augusta, Ga., and chief executive officer of United Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Mich. He was also assistant administrator of the Memorial Hospital in Owosso, Mich.
Caponi holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University. He also serves on boards for Xavier University, Choice Trust, Little Sisters of the Poor, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Indiana Hospital Association and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Caponi is a past board member for the Boy Scouts of America, and former chairman of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and the United Way of Central Indiana. In addition, he is actively involved with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
About Ascension Health
Ascension Health is transforming healthcare by providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Ascension Health, which provided $1.1 billion in care of persons who are poor and community benefit last year, is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system. Our Mission-focused Health Ministries employ 113,000 associates serving in more than 500 locations in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
About St.Vincent Health
St.Vincent Health is a nonprofit, spiritually-centered health system, sponsored by Ascension Health of St. Louis, MO., the nation’s largest Catholic health system. St.Vincent Health is one of Indiana’s largest employers with 20 health ministries serving 47 counties in central Indiana. The 129-year-old health system delivers high quality, compassionate care in service areas such as cardiovascular, women, children, neurosciences, cancer care, orthopedics, bariatrics, primary care, emergency medicine, imaging, general surgery and long-term acute care. For more information, visit www.stvincent.org
