Swope taking over at St. John's Health System

Jon Swope has been named president and CEO of St. John's Health System, succeeding Kim Day, who was promoted to an expanded role in the Sisters of Mercy Health System.

Day's final day at the helm in Springfield is Dec. 1; his new job includes overseeing the combined Joplin/Kansas region in addition to Springfield and Arkansas, according to a St. John's news release.

Swope assumes direct responsibility for St. John's Health System, including the Springfield hospital; five regional hospitals in Lebanon, Aurora, Cassville, Mountain View and Berryville; St. John's Clinic; and the system's regional managed-care plans. He most recently served as president of St. John's Hospital.

"Jon Swope's decades of experience in health care and his tenure at Mercy makes him an ideal candidate to continue the focus on the local communities served by St. John's Health System and will provide for a smooth transition," said Dr. Dominic Meldi, St. John's Health System board chairman, in the release.

Day assumed regional responsibilities for Mercy earlier this year while retaining the role of St. John's CEO, a job he held since 2005.

"By concentrating on his regional role, Kim will be able to further the work that he has begun in connecting and leveraging resources, technologies and plans throughout the region," said Lynn Britton, Mercy president and CEO, in the release.