CHICAGO, June 28, 2021– Hospital CEO positions turned over at a rate of 16 percent in 2020, according to a recent report by the American College of Healthcare Executives, the lowest rate calculated since 2011.
“The year 2020 was an unprecedented year and strong leadership teams were essential to taking care of patients. Our recent data suggests that turnover remains relatively stable,” says Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, ACHE's president/CEO. “While we do not collect data on why CEOs depart, we do know there are a variety of reasons driving turnover, including leaders moving to other roles or departing organizations. To ensure the strength and viability of the organizations in advancing health for patients and communities, boards and senior leaders need to remain vigilant in ensuring their succession plans and their development practices are relevant and up to date.”
The CEO turnover rates in this report are based on changes in an organization's CEO, as reported to the American Hospital Association and confirmed from ACHE data and public sources.
Hospital CEO Turnover*
| YEAR | (percent)** | NUMBER OF HOSPITALS |
| 2020 | 16 | 4399 |
| 2019 | 17 | 4438 |
| 2018 | 18 | 4465 |
| 2017 | 18 | 4435 |
| 2016 | 18 | 4401 |
| 2015 | 18 | 4448 |
| 2014 | 18 | 4501 |
| 2013 | 20 | 4546 |
| 2012 | 17 | 4555 |
| 2011 | 16 | 4542 |
| 2010 | 16 | 4567 |
| 2009 | 18 | 4582 |
| 2008 | 14 | 4520 |
| 2007 | 15 | 4496 |
| 2006 | 15 | 4546 |
| 2005 | 14 | 4512 |
| 2004 | 16 | 4566 |
| 2003 | 14 | 4569 |
| 2002 | 14 | 4602 |
| 2001 | 15 | 4624 |
| 2000 | 17 | 4689 |
| 1999 | 18 | 4744 |
| 1998 | 17 | 4780 |
| 1997 | 16 | 4842 |
| 1996 | 16 | 4928 |
| 1995 | 17 | 4940 |
| 1994 | 14 | 5045 |
| 1993 | 14 | 5030 |
| 1992 | 15 | 5198 |
| 1991 | 17 | 5294 |
| 1990 | 13 | 5398 |
| 1989 | 16 | 5454 |
| 1988 | 18 | 5526 |
| 1987 | 18 | 5583 |
| 1986 | 17 | 5626 |
| 1985 | 16 | 5651 |
| 1984 | 15 | 5665 |
| 1983 | 13 | 5672 |
| 1982 | 14 | 5678 |
| 1981 | 14 | 5687 |
_________________________
* Nonfederal short term, general medical and surgical hospitals.
** Rates before 2016 are statistically adjusted to correct for errors in reporting. Based on a telephone survey in 2017 using a sample of 300 hospitals, we determined that adjustment of the 2016 and later rates was not necessary.
Annual CEO Turnover by State
Nonfederal, General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – Calendar Year 2020
| Rank | State | CEO Turnover Percent |
| (High-turnover states) | ||
| 1 | DIST. OF COLUMBIA | 40 |
| 2 | MARYLAND | 33 |
| 3 | WYOMING | 30 |
| 4 | WASHINGTON | 29 |
| 5 | NORTH CAROLINA | 29 |
| 6 | NEW MEXICO | 29 |
| 7 | ARIZONA | 26 |
| 8 | DELAWARE | 25 |
| 9 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 24 |
| 10 | HAWAII | 24 |
| 11 | UTAH | 22 |
| 12 | WEST VIRGINIA | 22 |
| 13 | KANSAS | 22 |
| 14 | MICHIGAN | 21 |
| 15 | CONNECTICUT | 21 |
| 16 | VIRGINIA | 21 |
| 17 | COLORADO | 20 |
| (Medium-turnover states) | ||
| 18 | WISCONSIN | 19 |
| 19 | NEVADA | 19 |
| 20 | MAINE | 18 |
| 21 | ILLINOIS | 18 |
| 22 | IDAHO | 18 |
| 23 | OHIO | 18 |
| 24 | ALABAMA | 17 |
| 25 | PENNSYLVANIA | 17 |
| 26 | TEXAS | 16 |
| 27 | GEORGIA | 16 |
| 28 | NEW HAMPSHIRE | 16 |
| 29 | MISSOURI | 16 |
| 30 | TENNESSEE | 14 |
| 31 | NEW JERSEY | 14 |
| 32 | NEW YORK | 14 |
| 33 | MINNESOTA | 13 |
| 34 | KENTUCKY | 13 |
| 35 | MISSISSIPPI | 13 |
| (Low-turnover states) | ||
| 36 | MONTANA | 12 |
| 37 | SOUTH DAKOTA | 12 |
| 38 | FLORIDA | 12 |
| 39 | LOUISIANA | 12 |
| 40 | CALIFORNIA | 11 |
| 41 | ARKANSAS | 11 |
| 42 | PUERTO RICO | 11 |
| 43 | OKLAHOMA | 10 |
| 44 | NEBRASKA | 10 |
| 45 | INDIANA | 10 |
| 46-47 | ALASKA | 10 |
| 46-47 | NORTH DAKOTA | 10 |
| 48 | OREGON | 9 |
| 49 | IOWA | 8 |
| 50 | VERMONT | 7 |
| 51 | MASSACHUSETTS | 6 |
| 52 | RHODE ISLAND | 0 |
| US Total (50 states, DC, Puerto Rico) | 16 |
About the American College of Healthcare Executives
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance our members and healthcare leadership excellence. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE® credential, signifying board certification in healthcare management. ACHE's established network of 77 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its vision of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to advancing health. The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to further advance healthcare management excellence through education and research. The Foundation of ACHE is known for its educational programs—including the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants—and groundbreaking research. Its publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on health services management including textbooks for college and university courses. For more information, visit ache.org.
Contact:
Frank Austin
Senior Vice President
Department of Marketing
American College of Healthcare Executives
300 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60606-6698
(312) 424-9327
faustin@ache.org