Clemens will lead 66-bed Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City and 36-bed Mercy Rehabilitation OKC South
Mercy and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, together announced Tess Clemens as market CEO for the two Mercy rehabilitation facilities owned and operated as part of a joint venture in Oklahoma City. Clemens previously served as CEO of Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City South, a position she’s held since 2021.
“We are excited to see Tess assume this leadership role in our Oklahoma City market,” said Sharon Smeltzer, regional vice president, Lifepoint Rehabilitation. “With nearly 20 years in health care and more than five years in leadership roles for rehabilitation hospitals, Tess has proven her ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive colleagues toward ambitious quality and patient experience goals. We know she will continue to champion the people-first and evidence-driven care our Oklahoma City rehabilitation hospitals are known for, promoting a safe and healing environment for our patients.”
Over the last three years, Clemens has led strategic operations for Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City South, where her responsibilities included quality care measures, regulatory compliance, people services and access to care. Prior to serving as CEO for Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City South, Clemens worked at Baptist Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee, from 2014 to 2021. During her tenure, she served as the director of pharmacy, director of quality and risk and, most recently, as chief operating officer. She has more than eight years of experience in pharmacy management and an additional seven years of experience as a pharmacokinetic/pharmacogenetic analyst.
“Tess in an exceptional leader, and we’re so grateful for her vision to serve patients and co-workers in Oklahoma City,” said Zack Dawson, chief operating officer of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “The need for more health services, including rehabilitation care, continues to increase in our fast-growing region. Tess’ ability to build the right teams and a strong workplace culture will help us serve more patients.”
Clemens earned a bachelor’s in chemistry from The University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, and a doctorate degree from the College of Pharmacy at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Oklahoma Hospital Association.
“I am honored to lead our rehabilitation teams in Oklahoma City as we continue to provide and expand access to critically needed inpatient rehabilitation services in our region,” said Clemens. “I am eager to leverage the capabilities of our market team to support our quality and recruitment objectives, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together to advance our mission of making communities healthier.”
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City is located at Memorial Road and MacArthur Boulevard in northwest Oklahoma City. With 66 beds, it provides inpatient rehabilitation services for patients recovering from strokes, brain or spinal cord injuries, amputations, complex orthopedic injuries and other conditions.
