Shortly after an acquisition that expanded the company’s staff and client base, Healthland, Inc., a St. Louis Park-based software company that provides rural community and critical access hospitals with database solutions, announced Wednesday the appointment of a new chief executive.
 
Effective July 8, Chris Bauleke will assume the role of CEO, replacing current CEO and President Angie Franks, who will remain president—a decision that, according to Healthland spokeswoman Tracey Schroeder, will more effectively distribute responsibilities among a larger leadership team following recent company growth.
 
Schroeder declined to disclose Healthland’s annual revenue but said that the company is experiencing “continued, strong revenue growth.”
 
Bauleke joins Healthland with more than 20 years of experience in the health care IT industry. Most recently, Bauleke was president of San Francisco-based McKesson Corporation’s RelayHealth Enterprise Intelligence business unit—a network that connects patients, providers, pharmacies, and financial institutions in the health care industry. Bauleke is originally from Waseca, received his bachelor’s degree from Hamline University, and earned his MBA in management at the University of St. Thomas.
 
Healthland Chairman Ezra Perlman said in a statement that Bauleke’s experience in operational management, sales, and company acquisitions will aid Healthland’s growth in the health care industry.
 
“The American health care system is pushing providers to transform from a fee-for-service business model to a community health model,” Perlman said. “We will help providers make that leap, whether clinic, hospital, or post-acute care. Healthland is at a great launching point for future growth to capitalize on these trends.”
 
Healthland, a privately held firm, has recently undergone significant expansion. In the past five years, it has acquired three companies, the most recent being Jackson, Mississippi-based software company American HealthTech. Schroeder told Twin Cities Business that that addition increased the company’s employees from 300 to 450 and increased its number of clients from 500 to 3,500. While Schroeder wouldn’t disclose whether Healthland is planning additional acquisitions in the near future, she said the company is “always looking to expand to be ahead of the curve.”
 
In December, Twin Cities Business named Healthland as one of its 2012 Small Business Success Stories. Click here for the story.