Word in today from Providence Regional Medical Group that Kim Williams will be retiring this year. Here is the announcement sent out Wednesday afternoon.
Kim Williams, photo provided by Providence Regional Medical Group
Williams – who was born at Providence Everett – began her career as a front-line nurse, later took on numerous leadership positions and eventually became the chief executive of Providence Northwest Washington. In this role she leads Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE) and Providence Medical Group (PMG) Northwest.
In announcing her decision today, Williams said she has been discussing retirement with her family for quite some time, and she is confident making this decision knowing that there is now a vaccine for COVID-19 and that there is a strong leadership team in place to carry Providence’s Mission forward in Northwest Washington. “Leading the Northwest Service Area and working with our caregivers has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” Williams said. “I am continually in awe of and inspired by the commitment of our caregivers to serving our Mission in Snohomish County and beyond. I have held a number of positions in the past 18 years at Providence and have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. I only hope I have given as much as I have received.”
Williams leaves a legacy of innovation and servant-leadership. Under her leadership, Providence successfully lobbied the State for mental health funding, and is in the process of opening an inpatient mental health unit at PRMCE, which will provide a great service to the community. In recent years, she also helped with the build-out of the Cymbaluk Tower at the hospital to care for more patients, and oversaw incredible growth of Providence Medical Group clinics. In addition, programs like neurosurgery and trauma have become highly-regarded services in the community. And nearly one year ago, the first known patient with COVID-19 in the U.S. presented to a PMG clinic and was cared for at PRMCE. Williams led Providence’s response in the Northwest and provided a blueprint for other hospitals to follow as the pandemic spread throughout the country.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim has been a steadying hand at the helm, a courageous voice for her caregivers, and an advocate for evidence-based interventions,” said Elaine Couture, Providence Executive VP and Regional Chief Executive of the WA & MT Region. “However, her accomplishments extend far beyond COVID-19. She has developed innovative solutions to address long-length of stay patients, grown key service lines, and established Providence Regional Medical Center Everett as an esteemed tertiary care facility in its five-county service area. She is a Mission-driven leader who keeps patients and caregivers at the forefront, always focusing on what is best for the communities we serve,” said Couture.
In recent years, Providence Northwest Washington has grown to include more than 5,000 caregivers. PRMCE has increased to 571 beds and in 2019 saw nearly 30,000 acute admissions and more than 86,000 Emergency Room visits. In addition, PMG Northwest had nearly 600,000 patient visits at 19 practice locations. Williams also oversees Providence’s community benefit work in Northwest Washington, which in 2019 totaled $69.2 million. This includes free and discounted care for the uninsured and underinsured, unpaid costs of Medicaid, subsidized health services, education and research, and community health improvement and strategic partnerships.
Williams has also served on a variety of advisory boards, and will continue to serve as Board Chair of Snohomish County’s Future Workforce Alliance as well as the North Sound Accountable Community of Health through the end of 2021.
Prior to her retirement, Providence will share information about its leadership transition in the Northwest Washington Service Area.
January 6, 2021
Everett