McLaren Health Care Corp. in Grand Blanc near Flint, a three-state, 13-hospital, fully integrated health care system and health plan, has appointed Jennifer M. Montgomery to be its senior vice president and chief nursing officer. A newly created, system-level executive position, Montgomery’s assumption of the role, effective June 1, marks the first senior nursing leader in McLaren’s history.
Montgomery brings more than 16 years of nursing leadership and health care executive experience, including serving as president and CEO of multiple McLaren Health Care subsidiary hospitals since 2015. This in her new role she will report to Dr. Justin Klamerus, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for McLaren Health Care.
“These past few years have put a spotlight on the truly vital and dynamic role nursing and bedside caregivers have in our patients’ overall care,” says Montgomery. “In working and collaborating with our hospital patient care services leaders, we can share ideas and implement broad strategies so our nurses’ roles can reach their full potential and further benefit our patients. I am excited and humbled to be named the first system chief nursing officer, and grateful to McLaren leadership for their vote of confidence.”
Montgomery will provide clinical and operational oversight across the spectrum of nursing care at all McLaren hospital and ambulatory settings to align all system sites under a standard of care. She will collaborate with nursing leaders throughout McLaren Health Care to recommend, develop, and implement programs and initiatives to advance care and drive quality patient outcomes.
“Considering the geographical coverage of our organization and the range of services offered by our providers, creating a systemwide nursing leader to align McLaren bedside caregivers under a unified standard of care will provide measurable benefit to our patients’ care and experience,” says Philip Incarnati, president and CEO of McLaren Health Care. “In her time with McLaren, Jennifer has proven herself to be an effective leader and sincere in her level of commitment to our patients. These attributes will serve her well in this role.”
Montgomery initially earned her diploma in nursing from the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in Livonia before continuing in her career and education with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Wayne State University and Master of Science in administration from Central Michigan University. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing practice program at the University of Indianapolis.
