Venice hospital names interim CEO

VENICE — Venice Regional Bayfront Health named Jeff Reece interim CEO amid a wider change in leadership at the hospital.

Reece replaces Peter Wozniak, who resigned at the end of July. Wozniak, CEO since 2010, left soon after news reports in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune detailed investigations regarding the 312-bed hospital's response to a widespread sewage leak.

In addition to Reece, hospital officials named clinical administration veteran and former Venice Regional executive Peggy Greene interim chief nursing officer, according to a statement. Greene, interim chief nursing officer at Venice Regional in fall 2014, has overseen nursing staffs at hospitals and hospice facilities in Florida and Maryland, the release adds. She's also taught nursing at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Reece has also held executive positions at other medical centers. He was most recently interim CEO North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, in the Panhandle. Like Venice Regional, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, one of the largest acute care hospital operators in the country, owns North Okaloosa Medical Center. A paramedic and registered nurse, Reece has also held executive positions at hospitals in South Carolina.

“Jeff's commitment to creating positive relationships with physicians and hospital employees supports their work to provide quality care for patients and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements,” Venice Regional board of trustees Chair George Pickhardt says in the statement. “And Peggy has successfully helped hospitals through numerous surveys and times of transition. They will work together to administer the hospital and support all of our caregivers as we work to strengthen Venice Regional.”

The board, along with medical staff and administrators, are currently searching for a permanent CEO.