• Stephanie Conners has taken over as BayCare’s next President and Chief Financial Officer 
• Conners was first hired in August before undergoing a transition process with outgoing President and CEO Tommy Inzina 
• BayCare generates roughly $5 billion in annual revenue, serving as one of West Florida’s most prominent healthcare networks

Stephanie Conners has assumed the roles of Chief Financial Officer and President for BayCare, West Central Florida’s largest not-for-profit healthcare provider.

Conners succeeds the retiring Tommy Inzina, who announced his intention to step down earlier this year. Conners’ transition comes six weeks after she joined the company to work with Inzina in transitioning toward a new leadership team.

“I knew BayCare was among the nation’s best health care systems and now my experience on the ground makes clear why,” Conners said. “Our leaders and team members’ commitment to their patients, their providers, and the entire community is palpable: They truly care. Together, we will build BayCare’s next great chapter.”

Conners’ most recent role was as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Jefferson Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Philadelphia.

Conners is set to oversee a health system that accrues approximately $5 billion in annual revenue, more than 27,700 team members, and partnerships with more than 5,800 local community providers.

“I am humbled and honored to lead such a remarkable organization,” Conners said upon her initial hiring. “Its legacy of compassionate care is palpable, and I look forward to helping ensure its future success. It is my personal mission to make a difference in the lives of others.”

BayCare Health System in recent months announced plans to develop and open a new hospital facility in Manatee County. BayCare, which operates a collection of hospitals across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties, is working on obtaining necessary zoning approvals as it finalizes construction details.

The Manatee County hospital will be BayCare’s seventeenth acute care hospital. At this time, the exact hospital size, construction costs, employment opportunities, and timelines are still undetermined, as construction plans continue to develop.

BayCare also broke headlines last month when it reached a zero-hour agreement with Florida Blue to strike a new multi-year contract, establishing insurance coverage by Florida Blue at BayCare’s facilities.

According to a Florida Blue media alert, BayCare initiated discussions several months ago, demanding a double-digit percent increase for hospital services and a two-to-three-fold increase for its doctors, imaging, and accessory services. This, according to the insurer, would result in increased service and premium expenses.

Talks appeared to break down after more than 85,000 Florida Blue customers who received care from the BayCare Health System in the previous six months received notes in the mail advising that BayCare may opt-out of Florida Blue’s networks.

Should the two sides have failed to reach a deal, Florida Blue customers who rely on BayCare for medical treatment would be forced to pay out-of-pocket.