(The following is a press release from Ozarks Healthcare.)
West Plains, MO. – Ozarks Healthcare has promoted Casey Cates to Director of Surgical Clinics, recognizing her 11 years of service to the organization and her commitment to improving patient care throughout the region.
Cates began her nursing career at Ozarks Healthcare in medical-surgical nursing and has since served in several roles, including labor and delivery, wound care, nursing education, and practice management. Her management experience at Ozarks Healthcare includes Women’s Health, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wound Care.
Throughout her career, Cates has developed a broad understanding of patient care, from preparing patients for surgery to supporting their recovery. She said the opportunities Ozarks Healthcare has provided have helped her grow as a leader and discover a passion for supporting frontline staff.
“Being named Director of Surgical Clinics is a great honor and privilege to me personally,” Cates said. “I started my journey as a nurse not ever anticipating that I would ever want to leave the bedside. The organization has given me multiple opportunities to grow and develop as a leader. I am very thankful for this organization and the leaders who have come alongside me and continued to encourage me.”
In her new role, Cates will focus on supporting employees, identifying barriers to care and improving departmental efficiencies to ensure quality patient experiences. She also looks forward to opportunities to expand surgical services, including offering new procedures and improving patient access.
“Casey’s extensive clinical experience and proven leadership make her a valuable asset to our surgical services team,” Aimee Jarrett, Ozarks Healthcare Vice President of Ambulatory Services, said. “Her commitment to supporting our employees and continually improving the patient experience aligns with our mission to provide high-quality care close to home. We look forward to the positive impact she will continue to make in this new role.”
Cates said she believes strong surgical clinics are built on continued learning, adapting to the needs of the community and ensuring patients understand their surgical plans and recovery processes.
Her promotion reflects Ozarks Healthcare’s continued commitment to developing leaders within the organization and expanding access to quality surgical care close to home.
