Brinkman New COO at Hilo Medical Center

Hilo Medical Center has a new person in charge of daily operations.

Dan Brinkman has been named the hospital’s chief operating officer, the hospital said in a press release.

Brinkman has served as HMC’s chief nurse executive since 2007.

“In our healthcare environment, there is a real need for progressive leadership and our organization must invest in its team in order to move from good to great,” said Howard Ainsley, East Hawaii Regional CEO of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., the state’s hospital system.

“Dan has served us well as chief nurse executive,” Ainsley said. “I am pleased that he has accepted the chief operating officer position where, I believe, he will make a major impact on furthering our organization.”

A hospital spokeswoman said prior to Brinkman’s appointment, the COO position had been vacant for years.

Brinkman most recently led Hilo Medical Center during the Joint Commission survey in late January, hospital officials said.

Under his leadership, the hospital received the Gold Seal for Approval and was recommended by the accrediting body for “Best Practices” for its Pharm2Pharm partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy and its Antibiotic Stewardship Project.

Prior to joining Hilo Medical Center, Brinkman was the assistant administrator of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center.

“After seven years as chief nurse executive, I have come to love the hospital and the community,” Brinkman said. “I am looking forward to working with the excellent leaders and staff to improve the care we provide our patients.”

Brinkman earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado, an associate’s degree in nursing from Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augusta State College in Georgia.

He resides on the Hamakua Coast with his wife, six daughters and extended family.