Avera Announces New Chief Operating Officer
David Flicek has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Avera Health. In addition, he will continue his duties as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Avera Medical Group.
“Avera’s health ministry has seen significant growth in recent years. Under David’s leadership, Avera has added a new specialty hospital, expanded our behavioral health services, added two family health centers with free-standing emergency departments, extended our Avera Cancer Institute into our regions and replaced several critical access hospitals for our rural communities,” said Bob Sutton, Avera President and CEO.
“This growth is only the beginning – and as it continues, the need for an executive leader for our operational areas became abundantly clear. This position will be key in helping to ensure alignment and cohesion with Avera’s overall strategy and driving operational results. David’s commitment to serving our communities is a testament to his leadership and will continue to benefit our health ministry,” Sutton said.
Flicek will lead all of Avera’s integrated operations of clinics, hospitals and long-term care centers as well as Avera@Home.
Flicek is currently President and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and Chief Administrative Officer for Avera Medical Group. There will be a search opening in the near future for the leadership position at Avera McKennan.
In 2017, Flicek was named the 15th top administrator in the 110-year history of Avera McKennan, Avera’s 545-bed flagship tertiary hospital in Sioux Falls, as well as Avera McKennan sites that include the Avera on Louise Health Campus, Avera Specialty Hospital, Avera Behavioral Health Hospital, Avera Human Performance Center, sports and fitness facilities, Avera Prince of Peace Retirement Community, Avera Research and more. He also helped to develop the Avera Academy and is a founding member of The Link Triage Center.
Over the past five years, Flicek has led Avera McKennan through tremendous growth as well as challenging times, including the September 2019 tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time frame he led Avera McKennan to open the Avera on Louise Health Campus, expanded behavioral health and cancer services and achieved quality improvements. Avera McKennan is a 5-Star hospital as named by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is among the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation as named by IBM Watson Health.
Since 1995, Flicek has been instrumental in the development and expansion of various partnerships with clinic groups and city, county and community hospitals. Under his leadership of Avera Medical Group since 2008, it has grown from seven employed physicians and advanced practice providers to over 1,200 who practice in more than 60 specialties. Clinic locations have expanded from two locations to more than 200 in five states.
He has been with Avera for 27 years, earlier as Senior Vice President of Clinic Operations at Avera McKennan, and before that worked at Allina Health Systems in the Twin Cities. He is a native of Sioux Falls, a graduate of O’Gorman High School and a graduate of the University of South Dakota.
“David is extremely qualified for this role with 35 years of experience. The integration he has facilitated between physician groups and hospital functions of the health system is phenomenal, and his appointment to this role will strengthen these ties and further streamline care for optimal efficiency and the best possible patient experience,” Sutton said.
Flicek will assume his new duties in October and will work during the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
Flicek is actively involved in many community and professional organizations, currently on boards for The Link Triage Center, Alucent Biomedical and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Sioux Falls Leadership Council and the Forward Sioux Falls Joint Venture Management Committee. He has previously served on the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and co-chaired the most recent Forward Sioux Falls campaign.
“Avera has always been an organization with a strong mission and culture that matches my values. I am proud to have spent 27 years here and to now serve Avera in this expanded role. My priorities will include advancing our mission, clinical excellence, physician and employee engagement, patient satisfaction and operational improvement,” Flicek said. “Avera is such a mission-focused and innovative system that I would encourage anyone looking to be part of something larger than themselves to consider joining our team.”