SSM St. Mary's chief operating officer leaving

The executive vice president and chief operating officer of SSM St. Mary's Hospital has accepted a new position as president of the CHI St. Vincent hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, according to a release from St. Vincent.

Anthony Houston previously served as an SSM corporate director of operational finance. He joined the SSM staff in 2010.

Prior to his SSM career, he was the senior director for public finance for Fitch Ratings from 2006-10.

From 2004-06, Houston was a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"I am excited and pleased that CHI St. Vincent is entrusting me with the leadership of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs," Houston said in the news release. "I feel honored to have the opportunity to be affiliated with a health system with such a longstanding and deeply rooted commitment to the health care of Arkansans.

"I look forward to working with our local board, community, physicians and co-workers to continue the excellent health care, outreach and charity care currently provided at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs," he said.

Houston will replace Thomas Fitz, who was the interim president of the Hot Springs hospital when the system was acquired by CHI St. Vincent in April 2014.

SSM officials have selected Alice Chatley to fill the position's vacancy in Jefferson City temporarily. She currently is an SSM vice president and the chief nursing officer in Jefferson City, and has been with SSM since 2011.

SSM has not selected someone to fill Houston's job permanently, Becki Collier, SSM marketing and communications consultant, said Thursday.

She said the vacancy will be posted immediately and filled as quickly as possible.

An SSM press release Thursday announcing Houston's resignation said it will be effective Dec. 12.