Chad Melton Named New CEO of Fauquier Health

Chad Melton, CEO of Fauquier Health

 Chad Melton has been named the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Fauquier Health, effective February 13. Melton replaces long-time CEO Rodger Baker, who plans to retire in 2017.

Melton most recently served as CEO of Wythe County Community Hospital (WCCH), a LifePoint facility in Wytheville, Va. There he led significant safety enhancements, including helping the hospital maintain zero (0) central line-associated blood stream infections for 81 consecutive months. Also under Melton’s leadership, the emergency department ranked in the 90th percentile for patient satisfaction for two consecutive years, the hospital’s joint replacement program earned recognition as a Blue Distinction program, and the hospital’s LeapFrog Safety Score rose from a C to an A.

“In Chad’s 12-plus years of leading hospitals, he has proven his commitment to quality, his belief in servant leadership and community involvement, and his ability to drive improvements across the board,” said Jamie Carter, chief operating officer of LifePoint’s Eastern Group. “We are excited to welcome him to the team at Fauquier Health and know that he will do a wonderful job building on the strong foundation that Rodger has laid during his tenure as CEO.”

Prior to WCCH, Melton served in numerous leadership roles across the U.S., including director of operations for LHP Hospital Group in Plano, Texas, where he oversaw operations for LHP’s five acute hospitals and helped increase standardization across the facilities. He also served as CEO of HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley in Westwood, N.J., and division director of operations for LHP.

“Chad brings an impressive list of credentials and a genuine commitment to community,” said Ray Knott, the newly elected chair of FauquierHealth’s board. “We look forward to his arrival and introducing him to Fauquier County.”

Melton has a Master of Health Care Administration degree from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from Southwest Texas State University, also in San Marcos. He currently serves on numerous boards, including local chapters of the March of Dimes and American Heart Association, and has received numerous awards, including being named a “Hospital and Health System Leader to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2013.

“This hospital is a vital part of the Warrenton community, and I am honored to be able to continue the legacy of care that Rodger, the employees, medical staff and volunteers have become known for,” said Melton. “I’m really looking forward to this new opportunity and cannot think of a better way to start the new year.”

With Melton’s appointment, Baker will serve as chief transition officer until his retirement later this year.

“We want to thank Rodger for his many years of service and his continued commitment to the hospital and our community,” said Marshall Doeller, the former chair of Fauquier’s Board of Directors. “He has been an instrumental force, both inside and outside of the hospital walls.”