Providence fills chief executive post

Elaine Couture has been named chief executive of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital.

The position has been vacant for more than a year after the departure of Mike Wilson. She has been the hospitals’ active administrator in the past year with the title of chief operating officer.

Her new title dovetails with rapid changes affecting Spokane hospitals. Sacred Heart has won approval to add 75 acute care beds, despite protests from Community Health Systems Inc., which owns and operates Deaconess Medical Center.

Couture joined Sacred Heart in 2002.

Dr. Andrew Agwunobi is the CEO of Providence Health Care, which oversees all Providence hospitals and organizations in Spokane and Stevens counties.