West Chester Medical Center names Director of Plant Operations

West Chester, Ohio -- West Chester Medical Center has named Mike Kuechenmeister, FASHE, CHFM, CPE, Director of Plant Operations and Maintenance. He is responsible for overseeing maintenance and engineering for the West Chester hospital.

Kuechenmeister has been with the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati for more than 20 years, and served most recently as director of plant operations and maintenance, St. Luke Hospitals, where he oversaw all construction projects and obtained the Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Rating for the hospital. His extensive resume includes positions as corporate engineer, Triad Hospital, Dallas, Texas; director of facilities, Drake Center; and assistant vice president of corporate facilities, The Jewish Hospital.

Kuechenmeister also provides consulting services for Joint Commission Resources (an affiliate of The Joint Commission) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Kuechenmeister, a resident of Harrison, Ohio, received his bachelor of science degree in maintenance management from Lewis University, Lockport, Ill. He is a licensed Certified Healthcare Facility Manager; a Fellow and active member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering; and an instructor of facilities management and environmental health and safety issues for the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA).

West Chester Medical Center, part of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, is a new 160-bed hospital being built in West Chester, Ohio and is expected to open in early 2009. It will provide the latest technology delivered in a healing environment. Conveniently located and easily accessible, services will include a full service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services. For more information about West Chester Medical Center or to view the construction webcam, go to www.westchestermedcenter.com.