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“We must be committed to keeping appropriate patients in their local facilities as much as possible and expedite transfers to Lexington of only those patients who have complex problems requiring a university teaching hospital that has extensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities.”

Joe Claypool,
associate vice president for clinical network development,
UK HealthCare

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 7, 2005) -- University of Kentucky Hospital director Joe Claypool has been named UK HealthCare associate vice president for clinical network development – a new position designed to work more closely with hospitals and health care providers across Kentucky.

 In the newly created role, Claypool will work with health care providers to ensure that more Kentuckians have access to advanced medical care.

“Joe Claypool recognizes the importance of maintaining community relationships and the unique contributions of academic medical centers,” said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president of health affairs.  “I am confident that he will cultivate partnerships and foster collaboration with local providers in order to help improve the health of Kentuckians.”

UK HealthCare plays a critical role in assuring Kentuckians have access to the very best of contemporary advanced sub-specialty care through its programs of excellence. Critical to its success is the ability to communicate with and garner support from local providers for marquee programs while, at the same time, working with the providers to strengthen health care services in their communities.

“We must be committed to keeping appropriate patients in their local facilities as much as possible and expedite transfers to Lexington of only those patients who have complex problems requiring a university teaching hospital that has extensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities,” Claypool said.

Murray Clark, associate vice president for medical center operations, will assume the functions and ongoing management of UK Hospital.