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The Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHCA) today announced the appointment of Stephen Fischer to interim chief executive officer (CEO) for the authority.

Fischer will have the overall responsibility for all the authority’s operating entities; Atmore Community Hospital, including its clinics and home health agency; and D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital and its clinics, D.W. McMillan EMS and D.W. McMillan Home Medical Equipment.

“The board believes Stephen will be a great fit and will provide ongoing transitional support to the Authority’s over 500 employees in Escambia County, Alabama,” said Debbie Rowell, ECHCA board chairwoman in a release. “Stephen will continue to serve in the interim capacity while the board conducts a search for a permanent CEO.”

Fischer brings a lot of experience to this role, having served in a number of senior leadership capacities over the past several years.

Fischer began working with the ECHCA in April 2019 as a financial consultant/interim CFO and was appointed CFO in February 2020.

Fischer most recently served as the ECHCA CFO, accepting the position in January 2020. During his time as ECHCA CFO, Fischer was responsible for the areas of finance, materials management, information technology health information management and revenue cycle for the organizations under the ECHCA.

Fischer has approximately 30 years of experience in both healthcare finance and healthcare administration holding multiple positions at several hospitals and healthcare systems in Kentucky, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Mississippi and Indiana. His previous positions have included division director of finance, associate vice president of finance, regional CFO and interim CFO and CFO.

Fischer holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ball State University and a master’s degree from Webster University.

Fischer replaces Jeff Booth, who tendered his resignation as CEO of ECHCA on Aug. 25.