Chris Mitchell, MSN, RN, of Easton has been named director of emergency and outpatient services for Shore Health System. In this new position, Mitchell directs the operation of the Emergency Departments at The Memorial Hospital at Easton and Dorchester General Hospital. He is also be responsible for The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate of Shore Health System, which will open in November, and for a renal transplant clinic affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical Center and a vascular access service, both scheduled to open in 2009. Mitchell is also actively involved in developing plans for an Emergency Services Center in Queen Anne’s County.

Mitchell began his nursing career in 1996 after graduating from the University of Florida. He later earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Central Florida. In Florida, he was director of the telemetry and medical-surgical units at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida and clinical director of the cardiac unit at Manatee Memorial. Mitchell is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association.

In 2005, Mitchell relocated to Easton to become manager of emergency services for Shore Health System’s Memorial Hospital. Under Mitchell’s leadership, the Memorial Hospital nursing team participated in the design of the new 32-bed Emergency Department, which opened in December of 2007. He is currently working with the Dorchester General Hospital nursing staff and physicians on a project that will result in a major renovation to the hospital’s Emergency Department. Mitchell was also actively involved with implementing electronic documentation of patient records in the Emergency Departments and was a member of the team responsible for attaining Memorial Hospital’s designation as a primary stroke center.

Chris Parker, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CHCQM, FAIHQ, senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer for Shore Health System, comments, “In the three years that Chris has been a member of the Shore Health System management team, he has consistently proven his ability to lead within the nursing function. His experience as a critical care nurse and as a competent manager makes him the right person to move us into the future as we continue to enhance our emergency and outpatient services across the Mid-Shore region.”