Chris Hunter Addresses Quality Care Challenges at Acadia Healthcare
When Chris Hunter became CEO of Acadia Healthcare in 2022, he inherited both opportunities and challenges. The behavioral health provider had experienced rapid growth but also faced scrutiny regarding quality of care at some facilities. Hunter wasted no time in addressing these concerns head-on.
“We are committed to providing the highest standard of care throughout our network,” Hunter stated shortly after taking the leadership role. This commitment has translated into concrete actions across Acadia’s treatment centers, with Hunter implementing several initiatives to strengthen quality assurance.
One of Hunter’s first steps was restructuring the company’s quality and compliance functions. He separated these into distinct specialized teams with dedicated leadership, ensuring focused oversight on patient safety, clinical quality, and regulatory compliance. This reorganization reflected his determination to create accountability at every level of the organization.
Under Hunter’s direction, Acadia Healthcare has also invested heavily in staff training and development. New field-based programs for frontline caregivers focus on creating therapeutic environments and improving de-escalation techniques, directly addressing some previous criticisms of the company’s approach to patient care.
Chris Hunter’s background in healthcare management gave him a unique perspective on quality improvement. Drawing from his experience at Humana and other organizations, he has worked to standardize clinical protocols across Acadia’s network, addressing the historical fragmentation that patients often encountered when seeking treatment.
The results of these efforts have begun to show. Patient experience scores have meaningfully increased during Hunter’s tenure, with more individuals reporting feelings of safety, hope, and healing when rating their care at Acadia facilities.
Hunter continues to collaborate with policy makers, patient advocates, and industry stakeholders to enhance care standards. His transparent approach to addressing quality concerns has helped rebuild trust with referral sources and communities served by Acadia Healthcare.
While challenges remain, Chris Hunter’s leadership demonstrates that quality improvement and business success can go hand-in-hand at Acadia Healthcare, creating a stronger foundation for the company’s future growth.