Alumni/ae Spotlight

Patrick W. Farrell (MHA '91)
Chief Executive Officer of
Henrico Doctors' Hospital
Richmond, VA

By Tri Tang (MHA '06)

Mr. Patrick Farrell, CEO of Henrico Doctors' Hospital, is currently responsible for an integration merger of Henrico Doctors' Hospital - Parham Campus (Formerly HealthSouth Medical Center) and Henrico Doctors' Hospital - Forest Campus. Combined facilities have 540 beds and annual net revenue of approximately $225 million. He started his education with an Economics degree from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1986. The discipline and challenges that he had faced at VMI prepared him well for graduate school. He graduated from VCU's Health Administration Masters Program in 1991.

Throughout his thirteen years at Henrico Doctors' Hospital Mr. Farrell has helped create and implement major changes and expansions at the hospital which have positively impacted the hospital's healthcare services and delivery.   While serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) he oversaw completion of a $20 million project consisting of a four-story tower inpatient addition to the Hospital.   Mr. Farrell oversaw the acquisition and first FDA-approved rise of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, the latest technology in minimally invasive surgery.   One of only 12 hospitals in the country with the da Vinci surgical system, Henrico Doctors' offers patients "closed-chest open heart" bypass surgery requiring only 3 small incisions .   Such advancements have helped make Henrico Doctors' Hospital rate a HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital.   Henrico Doctors' Hospital has received rating for heart surgery from HealthGrades for the last three years.

As a health care leader, Mr. Farrell faces the day to day challenges of ensuring that today's patients are given quality care, and of positioning the hospital to continue to deliver top-notch healthcare services.   With his straight forward attitude and a strong work ethic, Mr. Farrell has established a dynamic working environment, created a strong leadership team, and maintained an experienced long term staff, with an average tenure of ten years.   Knowing that he can give patients the knowledge and experience of excellent care is the most rewarding part of his day.

Mr. Farrell believes that hard work, optimism, and willingness to learn can take a young administrator a long way. But most importantly, never quit.   When Mr. Farrell is not running the 540 bed organization he likes to take his wife Beth, and children Brandon, Andy, Stephanie, Katie, and Amy skiing or hiking. He also enjoys sitting back and reading when he finds the time.