St. Edward Mercy Health System Names Dr. Robert Patton President of
St. Edward Clinic

July 15, 2008 – (Fort Smith, AR) Dr. Robert Patton has been named president and chief executive officer of St. Edward Mercy Clinic effective July 14. The Clinic is a subsidiary of the St. Edward Mercy Health System. Dr. Patton will serve in an administrative capacity for the Clinic by serving as president and CEO as well as working in a clinical capacity by practicing part time in the Emergency Department at St. Edward Mercy.

“This was an exciting opportunity and I wanted to be a part of an integrated system,” said Dr. Patton. “I believe that this concept is the wave of the future.”

Dr. Patton is a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).  He completed his internship at UAMS and then completed his residency in family practice at the Naval Regional Medical Center. He also has an MBA from the University of South Florida.  Dr. Patton is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Family Practice. 
Dr. Patton brings over 12 years of experience as an Emergency Department medical director, including a strong background in process improvement and customer service. Dr. Patton also directed two EMS entities during his seven-year tenure as medical director of Emergency Services at St. Joseph Regional Health System in Bryan, Texas. Most recently, Dr. Patton served as executive vice president of Business Integration for Emergency Service Partners in Austin, Texas, an emergency physician staffing company of which he was one of the original owners.

Dr. Patton has been married to wife Susan for 34 years. He and his wife have four children and is the grandfather of three. Dr. Patton has strong family ties to this area having attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as well as growing up in Lewisville, Ark. His hobbies include running and cheering on the Razorbacks.

“I am coming home,” said Dr. Patton. “This was a great opportunity, and I get to be back in the state of Arkansas.”

St. Edward Mercy Clinic is part of an effort of the St. Edward Mercy Health System to support recruitment and retention of additional physicians to the community. The Clinic employs over 60 physicians in a broad range of specialties across many communities in western Arkansas. The Clinic is a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of the St. Edward Mercy Health System.