Jim Aberle selected as Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center president

Jim Aberle, MBA, FACHE, has been named president of Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. As president, Aberle will oversee operation of the hospital along with the chief medical officer and chief nursing officer.

He comes to Legacy from McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, Ore., where he was the chief executive officer. He previously served as the hospital’s chief operating officer. When asked about a challenge in healthcare today that he helped to resolve at his former employer, Aberle cited staffing.

“Staffing has been and continues to be one of the biggest challenges in health care,” he said. “One of the keys to building a stable and experienced workforce is to create a culture where people can thrive and bring the best version of themselves to work every day. My leadership team worked hard to improve morale and enhance teamwork that led to a 30% reduction in turnover and 50% reduction in contract labor in less than one year.”

McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center successfully navigated its way through the COVID-19 pandemic in part due to Aberle’s leadership. During his tenure, the hospital improved overall patient satisfaction, financial performance and reduced employee turnover.

During his recruitment process, Aberle noted that he is grateful for his experience with a for-profit hospital system, but that he also wanted to get back to a high-performing, non-profit hospital system that is committed to and reinvests in the health and well-being of its local community.