Cookeville Regional Medical Center has appointed Carrie Rice as the new executive director of emergency services to oversee the hospital’s 36-bed emergency department.
Rice joins the medical center with more than 25 years of healthcare experience and a background in improving patient outcomes in high-volume settings. The appointment comes as emergency departments nationwide face increased strain, with national median visit times reaching 161 minutes in 2024.
“We continue to face challenges in healthcare and emergency services is no different. However, we want the best for our patients and their families. As a medical center we have a responsibility to continue to look at processes, quality, communication and strategize how to better serve our patients and we are working every day to do that,” CEO Buffy Key said.
The medical center’s emergency department serves more than 46,000 patients and families in the region annually. The facility has recently introduced new clinical protocols and technology while maintaining a third-party contract with ApolloMD to manage physicians and advanced practice providers.
“We want to recognize that there is more work to do and that is precisely why this appointment matters. Our ED unit has 36-beds and, right now, we see around 124 on average a day. That increases greatly during the winter months. Our medical center cares about the people in this region, and we hear their needs and feedback. We look forward to the expertise that Carrie will bring to CRMC alongside our ED leadership team,” Amy Rich said.
Rice most recently served as the director of patient care services for emergency services and the observation unit at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona. The press release said she previously held leadership roles at Baptist Health in Montgomery, Alabama, and spent 15 years with the Huntsville Hospital System.
“I am honored to join the CRMC team and to serve the patients and families of this community. I know that emergency care is deeply personal and people come to us on some of the hardest days of their lives. My focus will be on building on the work already underway here, listening to our patients and our staff, and making sure every person who comes through our doors feels seen, heard, and well cared for. My motto is exceptional care with compassion, which aligns beautifully with CRMC’s visions and values,” Rice said.
Tennessee’s average emergency room visit times currently rank above the national median. Rice previously reduced emergency room length of stay by 18 percent and improved patient recommendation scores during her tenure in Tucson.
