NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jill E. McCormick, Director, Marketing & Planning
St. Edward Mercy Health System
Phone: 479-314-6037
Email: jill.mccormick@mercy.net

Chief Nursing Officer Hired for St. Edward Mercy
Fort Smith, Ark. – September 16, 2009 – Sheryl Tilus has been named chief nursing officer (CNO) of St. Edward Mercy Health System effective September 16, 2009. Tilus will be responsible for the coordination of all nursing activities within the St. Edward Mercy Health System.

Prior to joining St. Edward Mercy, Tilus served as vice president of patient care/CNO for Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa, Iowa where she was responsible for patient care services for 200+ beds.

From 1993 to 2001, Tilus was the director of acute care nursing services for St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Tilus was responsible for the direction and leadership of all clinical nursing services, social services, respiratory care services, case management/utilization review, and infection control.

It was her desire to provide compassionate care from a spirit of Mercy that led Tilus to St. Edward Mercy.

“I was impressed with the mission of Mercy and the dedication of the Sisters and the staff in their service to the community,” said Tilus.

Tilus graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. She received her MSN in Administration and Education from the University of Phoenix and also graduated Summa Cum Laude.

She is board certified in healthcare management and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Tilus has been in nursing for 30 years with 20 of those years being in nursing leadership.

Tilus comes with an Arkansas tie: she was raised in Rogers, Ark. Her hobbies include supporting local schools and anything related to children as she has raised six of her own. To relax, she plays the piano.

The St. Edward Mercy Health System, is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and serves over 400,000 residents in 13 counties. The Health System also includes three satellite facilities: Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial in Ozark; North Logan Mercy Hospital in Paris, and Mercy Hospital of Scott County in Waldron. Additionally, the system includes medical clinics in Charleston, Fort Smith, Mansfield, Paris, Van Buren, and Waldron.

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