From left, Jeff Hughes, director of A.K. Hinds University Center, and Keith Corzine, director of residential living, welcome Pam Buchanan as the new director of health services at Western Carolina University.

Western Carolina University’s new director of health services is alumna Pamela M. Buchanan, former director of planning and operations at WestCare Health System.

As health services director, Buchanan will be responsible for supervising health services staff, developing and managing the health services budget, advising the campus emergency medical services, directing the student insurance program, monitoring policies and compliance, and promoting wellness for students and university staff.

“Ms. Buchanan has nearly two decades of experience in health care, including serving as WestCare Health System’s director of planning and operations, chief financial officer and controller,” said Sam Miller, WCU vice chancellor for student affairs. “Her background and her expertise will help us further our mission of providing uncomplicated and affordable access to quality health care for all students.”

In Buchanan’s roles at WestCare, she worked with the emergency department in an effort to improve patient wait times and redesign the flow of patient traffic through the clinic area. She recently also worked on a project to redesign pharmacy processes between the hospital and long-term care center to ensure patient safety and compliance with the standards set by regulatory agencies.

In addition to managing fiscal accounting functions and patient care areas including radiation oncology centers, the sports medicine clinic and rehabilitation services, she oversaw implementation of a multimillion dollar hospital information system. Buchanan also assisted in the design and oversight of a self-funded health plan to provide cost-effective health care coverage to employees and a related wellness program.

“I look forward to working with students, faculty and staff to continue to provide quality health care on campus,” said Buchanan. “I am excited to become a part of the university system and the mission of preparing young people to meet their future, as I was prepared in my days here as a student. The chance to combine my knowledge gained at WestCare with my enthusiasm for WCU is a wonderful opportunity.”

Buchanan earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1991 and her master’s degree in business administration in 1999, both from Western. She currently is a member of the WCU Alumni Association’s board of directors.

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Last Modified: Thursday, June 12, 2008