CHI’s Lofton Listed Among “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare”

Kevin E. Lofton, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Health Initiatives, has been named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare magazine, a national weekly business publication.

Lofton, a former board chair of the American Hospital Association, is ranked No. 45 on this year’s list, which formerly was known as the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.” More than 2.2 million votes were cast in this year’s 10th edition of the magazine’s annual ranking of health care’s movers and shakers.

It was Lofton’s seventh consecutive year in the “Top 100” ranking – he has been included on eight of the 10 lists. The top spot on the list, occupied in the previous two years by President Obama, went this year to Rep. Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who is chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee.

Lofton, who has served as CHI’s chief executive since August 2003, oversees the third-largest faith-based health system in the nation, with 73 hospitals and other health care facilities in 19 states, including Colorado, where Centura Health – the state’s largest health system – is a joint operating agreement between CHI and PorterCare Adventist Health System.

Before joining CHI, Lofton was the chief executive officer of 908-bed University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. He also served as chief executive officer of 515-bed Howard University Hospital, a safety net facility in the nation’s capital; and as chief operating officer of 517-bed University Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla. His background in top leadership positions in so many diverse organizations provides a unique perspective on the problems and challenges facing the nation’s health care system.

About Catholic Health Initiatives: CHI is a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Englewood, Colo. The faith-based system operates in 19 states and includes 73 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; two community health-services organizations; and home health agencies. In fiscal year 2010, CHI provided almost $590 million in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With annual revenues of approximately $9 billion, CHI is the nation's third-largest Catholic health care system.