New Winneshiek Medical Center Chief Administrative Officer named

Gretchen Dahlen is the new Chief Administrative Officer at Winneshiek Medical Center.

Dahlen has been serving as Chief Executive Officer for North Woods Community Health Clinic in Hayward, Wisconsin.  She has also led ambulatory care and medical group practices, home health, new ventures development and other healthcare services in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.  She was formerly president and chief executive officer of Meriter Health Enterprises, and held various vice president and chief operating officer positions with Meriter Health Services and Madison General Hospital. She has also been administrator and chief executive officer of Sanford Hospital and Nursing Home, and assistant administrator of Metropolitan Hospital and Health Centers.

She graduated cum laude from St. Olaf College, then received a master's degree in Health Services Administration from The University of Michigan. 

Since 1993 she has run her own health industry consulting business based in Madison, Wisconsin, including www.consumerhealthrating.com, an online guide to healthcare ratings. 

Her company's website says Dahlen "is dedicated to excellent healthcare that meets consumer expectations, while addressing economic realities....She also challenges organizations to incorporate surprising findings—in words straight from the consumer—about what families want or expect by way of quality and patient safety."

Launched in 2006, www.consumerhealthratings.com also tracks and facilitates price comparisons within the healthcare field, to help consumers interested in knowing average costs for healthcare services. In her presentations.

Dahlen has more than 25 years of experience in health care administration spanning a variety of settings from acute care community and teaching hospitals, to ambulatory care, managed care, long-term care and home health.

SAhe replaces former Winneshiek Medical Center Chief Administrative Officer Dan Werner.