Bassett Healthcare Network has announced the appointment of Dr. Carlton J. Rule as chief quality officer.
According to a Bassett news release, Rule will oversee system-wide quality programs, patient safety, performance improvement, and patient experience. His responsibilities encompass ensuring regulatory compliance across all affiliated hospitals and clinics.
“Ensuring patients receive quality care and service goes to the heart of Bassett’s mission,” said Staci Thompson, president and CEO of Bassett. “As a longtime physician leader at Bassett, Dr. Rule thoroughly understands the challenges of clinical practice and knows firsthand the unique challenges we face as a rural healthcare system. We are fortunate to have him assume this new leadership role.”
According to the release, Rule “will work closely with clinical and non-clinical teams across Bassett Healthcare Network’s hospitals, clinics, school-based health centers, long-term care facilities, and other locations to improve the organization’s quality performance and programs – a key piece of Bassett Healthcare Network’s strategic organizational growth and goals,” the release stated.
Rule is currently vice president of medical affairs for Bassett Medical Center and the network’s critical access hospitals, including Cobleskill Regional Hospital, Little Falls Hospital and O’Connor Hospital — a post he will maintain in addition to his new position, the release stated.
“The chief quality officer has an expansive role,” said Dr. Henry Weil, chief clinical and academic officer of Bassett Healthcare Network and president of Bassett Medical Center. “This focus on quality includes the improvement of clinical outcomes, patient experiences and patient safety, which encompass all aspects of patient care. The partnerships Dr. Rule has developed over the years with physician and nursing leadership will serve him well, as this work requires full cooperation across numerous teams.”
Rule served as president and CEO of O’Connor Hospital in Delhi and Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney from 2014 to 2017. He also served as medical director of Bassett’s southern region health centers in Delaware County, including Delhi, Andes, Stamford and Walton. He has been a practicing physician in family medicine for more than 30 years. Before joining Bassett in 2011, Rule served as executive vice president of A.O. Fox Hospital. He has also served as the medical director of First Community Care of Bassett and medical advisor to At Home Care Inc.
“I am thrilled to expand my role at Bassett Healthcare Network with this vital work,” Rule said. “As a longtime family physician and clinical leader, I am passionate about ensuring excellence in patient safety and experiences across the care continuum. It is a privilege to work alongside executive and clinical leaders, practitioners, nursing professionals and so many others to orchestrate programs and initiatives to support and continually improve patient quality and safety.”