Paul Czajka, past associate administrator of support services of the former USC University Hospital (now Keck Hospital of USC), has been named chief operating officer (COO) of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, effective Nov. 4.

Czajka brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including responsibilities in the areas of non-clinical and clinical operations, construction management, implementation of the patient electronic health record and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), strategic planning and business development.

“This is a new position at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and one that is crucial as we move forward with our construction and expansion plans and implementation of the electronic health record,” said Debbie Walsh, CEO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. “Paul’s knowledge and experience make him a perfect fit for the COO position.”

Czajka’s most recent position was COO at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center. There his work helped earn the hospital quality awards and accreditations, including Joint Commission (JC) Primary Stroke Center, JC Advanced Inpatient Diabetes Care, Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care for Chest Pain Center, Tenet Innovation Award for Inpatient Diabetes Program and Bariatric Center of Excellence. In addition, he was responsible for all construction projects as well as the successful implementation of the Cerner patient electronic health record and CPOE at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital.

“It’s exciting for VHH to be a part of the USC family, which will open the door for our patients and community to gain access to specialty services offered by a world- class academic medical center,” Czajka said. “This is a very exciting time for Verdugo and USC. I look forward to contributing to the growth and development of health-care services at USC-VHH, and I’m delighted to be appointed COO of USC-VHH.”