News

May 19, 2015

Walter J. Ramos to Lead Carney Hospital

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 Experienced Health Care Executive Formerly Served as President & CEO of DotHouse Health in Dorchester

Boston, MA, May 12, 2015 —Today, Steward Health Care System LLC (Steward) announced the appointment of Walter J. Ramos as the new President of Carney Hospital, an affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine, in Dorchester. An experienced health care executive, Mr. Ramos most recently served as the President & CEO of DotHouse Health, a Joint Commission-accredited health center in Dorchester. He will assume his new role at Carney Hospital in July 2015.

“Walter Ramos understands Dorchester and the surrounding communities and will bring new energy and vision to this role at Carney Hospital,” said Mark Girard, MD, president of Steward Hospital Group. “Carney Hospital is in the midst of an exciting resurgence. In recent years, Carney has consistently earned national awards for quality patient care, grown the number of primary care and specialist physicians, and significantly expanded available services and improved the facilities. We believe Walter Ramos will provide the leadership needed at this important time at the Carney.”

At DotHouse Health, Mr. Ramos was engaged with the local community and produced strong operating results while the community health center also achieved national standards for quality and safety in health care delivery. Mr. Ramos previously served in senior leadership roles at the Massachusetts Hospital Association and Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan before joining DotHouse in 2012.

“I am so proud that Carney Hospital has attracted the kind of talent Walter Ramos possesses,” said J. Keith Motley, chair of the Carney Hospital Board of Directors and chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston. “He is a proven leader with strong connections to the communities of Dorchester and Boston, and he understands the health care needs in the neighborhoods and of their residents.”

Carney Hospital continues to expand available services to patients and improve its facilities to meet the needs of the surrounding communities. The Emergency Department has some of the shortest wait times in the area and will undergo additional upgrades in the coming months to improve patient flow and comfort. Carney has three new state-of-the-art operating rooms with an adjoining post anesthesia care unit. Last month, Carney also opened a new Family Medicine Center, which features 26 exam rooms in 7,400 sq. foot of state-of-the-art space. Family Medicine Physicians are specially trained to provide comprehensive primary care for the entire family, from prenatal care to the care of children, parents and grandparents.

“1199SEIU members are looking forward to working closely with Walter Ramos in his new leadership position to help Carney Hospital continue to grow and improve,” said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU.

In recent years, Carney has focused on recruiting physicians, residents and staff from diverse backgrounds and with language skills, including Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole to better serve the diverse community.

“I understand and appreciate the diverse communities that Carney Hospital serves,” explained Mr. Ramos. “I am excited to join Carney Hospital and look forward to working with caregivers, patients, and community leaders to build on the hospital’s excellent track record in recent years.”

“The close collaboration between community health centers and hospitals is important for Dorchester and the surrounding communities,” explained Jim Hunt, President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and Carney Hospital Board member. “Walter understands and appreciates the important link between hospital and health center primary care after successfully leading DotHouse for several years."

About Carney Hospital
Since 1863, Carney Hospital has served the City of Boston and neighboring communities. Carney Hospital has received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality and safety and numerous other quality and safety awards. The 159-bed hospital has more than 400 physicians and delivers quality care to approximately 37,000 patients annually. Carney Hospital provides Dorchester and surrounding communities with convenient, local access to quality primary care, emergency medicine and a range of specialties and subspecialties including; critical care, family medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, ambulatory care and adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatry. Carney Hospital is part of the Steward Health Care Network. To learn more, please visit: www.carneyhospital.org