Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network Hires New Executive Director

The Illinois Critical Access Hospital (ICAHN) has chosen Tracy Warner, CRHCEO, as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Warner is an experienced healthcare executive and governance subject matter expert with knowledge gained from over 30 years in association and hospital leadership roles, including leading a rural hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She began her healthcare career at the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) where she was responsible for the initiation of policy analysis, and formulation and execution of strategy on behalf of member hospital interests. Her responsibilities at IHA also included association management responsibilities as a member of senior leadership.

Following her work as an advocate for Iowa hospitals, she joined UnityPoint Health Des Moines as the director of a network of six rural hospitals under management agreements. Over the course of 14 years in that position, Warner was a valuable resource to rural hospital Boards and senior management on a variety of subjects including health care policy, leadership, governance, reimbursement, regulatory requirements, and strategy.

Culminating her experience in governance, in 2021 Warner founded Board Business LLC, a consulting firm that guides rural hospital Board leadership to create efficient and effective governance processes resulting in more time for focused strategy discussions and optimal decision-making to impact organizational sustainability.

Warner earned the Certified Rural Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CRHCEO) designation from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) in 2021 after completing a ten-month curriculum addressing leadership, operations, financial and clinical modules.

Pat Schou, former ICAHN Executive Director, is retiring on June 30, 2024, after a long-standing career dedicated to rural healthcare in clinical and administrative roles.

“I am thrilled to have Tracy Warner as the new ICAHN Executive Director”, said Schou. “With her critical access and rural hospital experience, as well as her recent work with hospital boards, Tracy will be more than capable of leading ICAHN into the future. She understands the embodiment and significance of what ‘rural’ means and has an outstanding ability of working with people and networks. I look forward to seeing ICAHN grow to great heights, and I wish Tracy and ICAHN the very best.”

Warner grew up in the Kansas City area and moved to Iowa after graduating from the University of Kansas. She is an avid sports fan and actively follows the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Cubs, KU basketball and Iowa State football. She and her husband, Rick, have four kids and four grandkids.

Warner begins her new role on July 8, 2024.

ICAHN is a network of 60 small, rural hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization is composed of Illinois hospitals who have earned critical access hospital designation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is recognized nationally for its work with rural healthcare, administering several state, federal, and private healthcare programs.