Local Hospitals’ CEO Newell Hired by Temple Health System

POTTSTOWN PA – Change is coming to the executive suite at Pottstown and Phoenixville hospitals.

Richard “Rich” Newell, MPT, DPT, who for several years has served as president of the Tower Health hospitals in both boroughs, has accepted a job as president of Temple Health’s Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia. He starts in the position April 8 (Monday), Temple said in a media release.

Chestnut Hill was formerly owned by Tower Health, and was sold to Temple Health for $28 million in January 2023.

Newell was among the first to welcome the public to “a bold new beginning in health care” during October 2017, as Tower Health bought Pottstown Hospital, Jennersville Hospital, Brandywine Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, and Chestnut Hill Hospital from Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc. At the time, community leaders expressed their excitement about possibilities enabled by the change.

But increased revenue and growth envisioned following the merger plans pursued by Clint Matthews, former Tower Health president and chief executive officer, did not materialize.

Some experts suggested the properties were over-priced. Additionally, the coronavirus illness, which blossomed in China during December 2019 and was officially declared a worldwide pandemic in March 2020, increased healthcare delivery costs and reduced income due to treatment of fewer patients. Tower Health amassed debt from which it is still trying to recover.

It resulted in the sale or closure of some facilities, and extensive cost-cutting at others. Newell oversaw related changes at the Pottstown and Phoenixville locations during the period. Temple’s media release credited Newell with effectively integrating “finance, IT, health information management, compliance, case management, physician liaison, and marketing operations across the two hospitals.”

“Rich’s two decades of healthcare operations leadership experience, and passion for quality and service-oriented care, make him an excellent fit with our goals to propel Chestnut Hill Hospital to greater levels of excellence through integration and expansion of services,” according to Abhi Rastogi, MBA, MIS, president and CEO of Temple University Hospital, and executive vice president of Temple University Health System.

“We look forward to working with Rich as we build upon the performance improvement processes we have already begun at Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital,” Rastogi added.

Newell previously served as CEO of Carlisle Regional Medical Center; at Roxborough Memorial Hospital as chief operating officer, director of business development, physician practice manager, and director of therapy services; and at Temple Health for four years earlier in his career, as senior physical therapist, clinical manager, and manager of outpatient services.

Newell earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration from Berry College in Georgia, and his master’s and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Temple University.

Newell photo provided by Temple Health
Pottstown Hospital photo by Travels With The Post