Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital appoints Loretta Schmidt as New Chief Nursing Officer

Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital is proud to announce the appointment of Loretta Schmidt as its new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) effective August 11th. In this role, Schmidt will lead all aspects of nursing practice, patient care services, and nursing strategy across the hospital.

“I am honored to join Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital and humbled to walk in the footsteps of Kim Finch, whose legacy inspires us all,” Schmidt said. “It’s a privilege to return to a leadership role in a mission-driven organization so embedded in its community values. I look forward to supporting our nurses, patients, and families as we continue to elevate the standard of care.”

Schmidt brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and 25 years in senior leadership roles. Throughout her career, she has been an innovative leader focusing on nurturing healing environments and driving transformational improvements in quality, safety and nursing satisfaction.

“Her proven record of innovative leadership, results-driven strategies, and deep commitment to community-focused care make her an outstanding addition to our team. I’ve worked with Loretta before and can’t wait to see how she takes our team forward. We should all be excited for the vision and experience she brings to our hospital,” said Chad Towner, Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital.

Most recently, she has held progressive leadership roles in northern Indiana, where she served as Chief Nursing and Quality Officer and President of the Plymouth Medical Center. Among her many accomplishments, Schmidt has developed a new post-pandemic care model, improved nursing engagement and satisfaction to the 80th percentile, and achieved national benchmarks in patient quality and safety metrics, including falls, pressure ulcers, and hospital-acquired infections.