ERNST NAMED CLINICAL DIRECTOR FOR MEDICAL AND CRITICAL CARE SERVICES

Saint Francis Healthcare System announces the appointment of Denise Ernst, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC-CMC, as the clinical director for medical and critical care services for Saint Francis Healthcare System.

In her new role, Ernst’s responsibilities include planning and directing both the administrative and clinical activities of the intensive care units: medical, progressive care and wound care therapy. This position reports directly to the vice president of patient care.

Ernst has been the patient care manager for the cardiac intensive care and progressive care at Saint Francis since 2011. She became the manager of progressive care earlier this year. Prior to coming to Saint Francis, Ernst worked in the intensive care unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University.

Saint Francis Medical Center is a 289-bed facility serving more than 713,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guided by its mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Christian philosophy and values, it has become a progressive and innovative regional tertiary care referral center. Saint Francis’ major service lines, which have received national recognition, include the Neurosciences Institute; Orthopedic Institute; Family BirthPlace, featuring the region’s first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Heart Hospital; Emergency and Level III Trauma Center; Cancer Institute; and Fitness Plus.