Bassett Medical Center Appoints Vice President of Medical Affairs

Dr. William LeCates has been appointed Vice President of Medical Affairs for Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY. This role is in addition to his responsibilities as the hospital's medical director, a position he has held since 2011. As VP of Medical Affairs, LeCates will have oversight of care management and clinical excellence, which includes the areas of quality management, clinical effectiveness, infection control, risk management, accreditation and regulatory readiness.

In making the announcement, Bassett Healthcare Network President and CEO, Vance M. Brown, MD, said, "This appointment realigns clinical quality and safety under the leadership of Dr. LeCates. I am confident Bill's experience, and clinical acumen will continue moving us forward as we work to develop high functioning clinical care teams with a shared purpose of enhancing our quality of care and achieving top patient outcomes."

Over the past six years as medical director, LeCates has managed physician and advanced practice clinician credentialing and medical staff affairs. He has provided clinical oversight to the hospital's quality assurance programs, performance improvement and evidence-based medical practice, and he has served as the physician representative to risk management operations.

"I am honored to work alongside an exceptional group of caring and dedicated employees at Bassett," said LeCates. "As much as possible, I hope to keep the welcoming sense of community at the forefront of everything we do, while keeping the necessary regulatory complexities running smoothly in the background. The strength of our health care system is that our employees, patients and neighbors may all be the same person. I'll work to ensure that every patient at Bassett receives the safest and highest quality of care possible."

LeCates has been a member of the hospital's Quality Management Council since 2003 and co-chair since 2013. He is also a member of the board of trustees' Performance Improvement Committee. A nephrologist by training, LeCates is a member of the Army Medical Corps and has deployed three times to Afghanistan and Liberia. He lives in Cooperstown with his wife Deborah and their children Abby, Grace and Henry.