Hospital administrator, CBC grad keynotes nursing ceremony

Jerry Rodriguez, Christus Spohn Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will be guest speaker at Coastal Bend College’s Nursing Pinning/Graduation Ceremony on May 8, 7-9 p.m.

Since April 1, 2007, Rodriguez has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville. The $6 million rural medical center is the sole hospital provider in Beeville and the surrounding communities.

Rodriguez is a 1992 graduate of Bee County College (now Coastal Bend College) in Beeville. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1994 and a Master of Science Degree  in Nursing – Administration  in 2005 from Texas A&M University -- Corpus Christi. He is a board certified in nursing administration and a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, American College of HealthCare Executives and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. He began his health care career at Bee County Hospital in 1994.

Prior to taking on the role of COO, Rodriguez was chief nursing officer with oversight of nursing standards, policies and procedures, nursing care provided to patients, cardiopulmonary services and pharmacy services. Rodriguez collaborated with leaders in the health system to recommend changes in policy, facilities, equipment and programs, in order to achieve the health system’s objectives.

Rodriguez was a sponsor for Christus Spohn Health System’s Critical Care Specialty Council. He led the Christus Spohn Health System Medication Reconciliation Team, Christus Spohn Health System Forms Standardization Team, and was selected as the Christus  Spohn Chief Nursing Officer Course Champion for the Advisory Board- Nursing Leadership Academy Program for the health system. Rodriguez was instrumental in implementing critical thinking courses for all Christus Spohn Health System Nurses. He also created a template for a Nurse-Physician Council currently being piloted at Christus Spohn Hospital-Memorial.

Rodriguez has more than ten years of experience in nursing leadership. He held positions as staff emergency department nurse, director of nurses, manager of performance improvement and risk management, clinical preceptor, director medical surgical/pediatrics, and associate administrator. He is a 2007 graduate of Christus Academy.

Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville has 69 beds and more 2,300 in-patient admissions annually. Over 36,300 outpatients and 19,000 emergency room patients visit the hospital each year. Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville employs 249 full-time employees and independent staff physicians.

The Beeville hospital’s  specialty services include women’s health center, MRI, ultrasound and diagnostic, vascular, echo, stress and respiratory, hemo, chemistry and micro. The hospital net $21 million in patient revenue last year.