JOHNSTOWN  — Lamar McBride has been appointed chief executive of Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital in Johnstown.

McBride had been serving as chief operating officer for the hospital since January 2015.

“Lamar has provided strong leadership and a positive influence on the organization this past year, and we are excited to see him promoted to CEO,” said Mike Phillips, area director of operations for Albuquerque-based Ernest Health Inc., a network of rehabilitation and long-term acute care hospitals of which NCLTAH is a member. Leaders of hospitals in the Ernest Health network begin as chief operating officers before being considered for the title of CEO.

McBride has more than 18 years of experience in health-care strategy development and implementation. Prior to joining Earnest Health Inc., he worked in academic and health-system environments, handling responsibilities for operational management, productivity improvements, physician relationship building, capital construction project management, strategic planning and policy development.

As COO, McBride was responsible for driving strategic prioritization and accountability within NCLTAH.  He will continue to be responsible for leading community outreach and ensuring operational excellence, according to a prepared statement.

The hospital in Johnstown serves ill and injured patients in Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and Western Nebraska.