• JASON COBB TO JOIN WILLIS-KNIGHTON HEALTH SYSTEM

Jason Cobb has been named senior vice president of Strategic Operations at Willis-Knighton Health System. The announcement was made by Jaf Fielder, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton. Cobb will assume his duties on Jan. 2, focusing on day-to-day operational performance and health system initiatives to support Willis-Knighton’s growth strategies.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jason back into the Willis-Knighton family,” Fielder says. “His extensive senior management experience with large and complex facilities, as well as his familiarity with Willis-Knighton Health System, makes him uniquely qualified to build upon our continued success.”

Cobb comes to Willis-Knighton following 29 years of health-care executive experience, most of it in Louisiana. He began his health-care career at Willis-Knighton in 1996. Most recently, he has served as president and CEO of Rapides Healthcare System in Alexandria. Under his tenure there, the health system has become a leading health-care provider in central Louisiana. He has gained a reputation as a seasoned executive who couples strategic and operational health-care expertise with a passion for performance improvement and employee engagement.

In addition, Cobb has been actively involved in the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA), serving as chair of that organization and its foundation. During his leadership with LHA, he was instrumental in obtaining approval for health-care payment reform for Louisiana hospitals.

Cobb holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Arkansas.

• INTENSIVE SPECIALTY HOSPITAL TO OPEN TWO ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS

Intensive Specialty Hospital announced that it will expand its operations to add two additional locations to serve its patients in the Shreveport-Bossier City communities.

Their third location will be on the eighth floor of the WK Pierremont Health Center’s building, while their fourth location will be on the second floor of the WK Extended Care Center on Kings Highway on the Willis-Knighton Medical Center campus.

The hospital’s commitment was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when Intensive Specialty Hospitals provided long-term care for many of our community’s sickest patients. Their high standards of excellence in care earned them praise for their commendable rates of recovery in our community.

The new locations will allow Intensive Specialty Hospital to continue its mission of providing patients and their loved ones with professional, compassionate care in an environment conducive to healing.

Intensive Specialty Hospital will assume operations of these additional locations from the current tenant, Pam Health, and open under Intensive Specialty Hospital effective Jan. 19, 2023.

Intensive Specialty Hospital provides care for patients with acute medical needs within a specialized setting. With illnesses ranging from infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders and multi-organ failures, patients are admitted to Intensive Specialty when they require hospitalization for an extended length of time.