St. Vincent Hospital Names New Chief

The beleaguered St. Vincent Medical Center, beset by scandal, layoffs and increasing debt, announced the appointment Thursday of a new chief executive officer.

Catherine Fickes, a veteran healthcare administrator, will replace Gus Valdespino, who quit after citing philosophical differences over strategy and finances with the Daughters of Charity Health System. St. Vincent, the oldest hospital in Los Angeles, lost $12.2 million in the last fiscal year and more than $15 million in the first eight months of this fiscal year.

Fickes comes to the medical center from Cambio Health Solutions. She was also the interim chief executive officer of Daniel Freeman Hospitals in Los Angeles.