CoxHealth names Alicia Allen as vice president of nursing for its Springfield Hospital Group

Alicia Allen has been named as vice president of nursing for CoxHealth’s Springfield Hospital Group. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading nursing practice throughout CoxHealth’s Springfield hospitals, including operational aspects of planning, organizing, directing and evaluating nursing care.

“Alicia is a transformational, results-oriented nurse leader who has a passion for generating outcomes through building great teams, developing people, using innovative approaches, and gathering stakeholders to address goals,” says Beth Polivka, CoxHealth’s system chief nursing officer.

The VP of nursing role was previously held by Polivka, who served in a dual role, alongside her duties as system chief nursing officer. Polivka will continue in her responsibilities as senior vice president and system chief nursing officer.

Allen comes to CoxHealth from Carle Health in Bloomington, Illinois. She most recently served as director of emergency, trauma, EMS and critical care services at Carle Health.

Allen graduated with her BSN in 1996 from Bradley University College of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois. She completed her MSN in Nursing Administration from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois in 2012.

Throughout her career, Allen has served in a number of roles, including at the bedside in ICU and procedural units, as a nurse manager in outpatient oncology, and as a director of nursing for medical-surgical patient care services.

During her time at Carle Health system, Allen helped establish a program that focused on reducing frequent hospital admissions for patients with chronic conditions. The program resulted in a decrease of hospital admissions by 76% per month, and a reduction of ED visits by 50% per month. Her work was published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality in 2021.

Allen is certified in Nursing Professional Development, and she has earned both a green and black belt in Lean Six Sigma.

“Alicia possesses strong strategic vision and planning, coupled with effective operations management skills,” Polivka says. “Her focus on high-quality care and patient safety has achieved results because of her strong ability to foster relationships and work closely with nursing managers and front-line staff to listen and engage. She is a published and accomplished nurse, but equally a kind, compassionate, and caring nurse leader.”

Allen assumes the role effective immediately.

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