Tenet Hospitals Reorganized

Tenet Healthcare Corp., the No. 2 U.S. hospital chain, said Monday it reorganized the management of its 130 hospitals in an attempt to hold down costs and improve internal communication.

The Santa Barbara-based company said its hospitals now are divided into three operating divisions instead of two. Tenet said the change is intended to let divisional leaders focus on fewer hospitals and to give chief executives of hospitals a shorter chain of command.

Five executives were also named executive vice presidents. Reynold Jennings, 52, previously a regional senior vice president, is now executive vice president, operations, for the new Southeast division.

Tenet shares rose $1.06 to close at $24.69 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Neil Sorrentino, 52, previously a regional senior vice president and chief executive, was promoted to executive vice president, operations, for the Western division.

Senior Vice President Stephen Brown, 43, was named executive vice president and chief information officer. Senior Vice President Alan Ewalt, 54, was made executive vice president of human resources. Raymond Mathiasen, 55, senior vice president and chief accounting officer, was promoted to executive vice president and remains chief accounting officer.