Abbeville Area Medical Center 
Chief Executive Officer Dean Turner has notified the hospital’s Board of Trustees of his plans to retire later this year. The hospital will work with its longtime management partner, QHR Health, to conduct a national search for new leadership.
According to Turner, who has led AAMC since April 2016, recent events – including the operational impact of COVID-19 on all hospitals and a personal desire to spend more time with family following his own recovery from the virus – accelerated his plans to retire mid-year 2021.
“It has been a true honor to lead the dedicated employees and physicians of AAMC, especially as they continue to selflessly respond to the pandemic,” said Turner. “Thanks to the hard work of many and the resources received through the CARES Act, AAMC is well positioned to withstand the many challenges facing rural hospitals. However, I believe the hospital will benefit from the guidance and perspective of a new leader, who will be here longer than I had planned, as it navigates this next chapter. I will miss AAMC and this community, but I believe this is the right decision at this important time.”
Under Turner’s leadership, AAMC has rapidly grown its services – providing patients with improved access to care and strengthening its financial position to ensure it is able to serve future generations. In addition to launching an industrial medicine program, AAMC recently expanded infusion services and installed a hospital-based MRI. The hospital has also improved access to primary care through the addition of a freestanding health clinic – Abbeville Area Healthcare Center in 2017. Throughout Turner’s tenure, AAMC has achieved continued recognition for its quality and safety efforts, recently earning its 19th Zero Harm Award from the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) since 2014.
“While we are saddened to lose a leader of Dean’s caliber, we respect his decision and appreciate his continued focus on our hospital’s long-term future,” said Gene Pruitt, chairman of AAMC’s Board of Trustees. “We thank Dean for his dedication and service and wish him the very best in retirement. With the help of our partners at QHR Health, I am confident we will identify the right leadership team to lead our hospital into its second century of caring for this community.”
