CEO Bill Little Closes Chapter at Carolina Pines, Leaving a Lasting Mark

Bill Little, CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) since 2016, is leaving the hospital to take the CEO role at St. Francis - Emory Healthcare (St. Francis). St. Francis, a 376-bed hospital in Columbus, GA, is the largest community hospital owned by ScionHealth, also the parent company of Carolina Pines.

Little, whose will begin a two-week transition from CPRMC next week, said it will be difficult to leave the hospital and its outstanding team.

“Being part of the Carolina Pines family has truly been one of the greatest joys of my career,” said Little. “Over the past eight-plus years, this hospital, this team, and this community have become home. The friendships and connections I’ve made here mean so much to me, and that’s what makes this transition especially bittersweet. While I’ve accepted a new opportunity within our company, I’ll always carry a deep appreciation for Carolina Pines and will continue cheering on this incredible team doing such meaningful work every day. That being said, I’m extremely excited for the chance to take on this new role and continue serving in a way that makes a difference. On a personal note, my wife and I are looking forward to being closer to our daughters and grandbaby, which makes this next chapter all the more special.”

Russell Pigg, President of ScionHealth’s Community Hospital Division, said a search for a new CEO at Carolina Pines is already underway and expects the process to take a few weeks.

“Through the hard work of Bill and his team, Carolina Pines has emerged as one of the top-performing hospitals at ScionHealth and across the country,” said Pigg. “We want to ensure the hospital continues to set a standard for excellence, and we will certainly perform our due diligence to ensure we find the right CEO. In the interim, we have tremendous confidence that the leadership and team at the hospital will seamlessly navigate the transition and provide our patients the quality care they deserve.”

During Little’s eight-plus years as CEO of CPRMC, the hospital has advanced from a Leapfrog “D” grade for patient safety to its current status of seven consecutive “A” grades and two consecutive years as a Leapfrog “Top General Hospital,” an award presented to roughly 30 hospitals nationwide each year. CPRMC also is a recipient of the “Platinum Award,” the highest honor of ScionHealth’s National Quality Strategy.

In recent years, the hospital has added or expanded services to best serve the community, including the opening of a clinic in Pageland, South Carolina.  It has also earned several certifications and designations from The Joint Commission – including being the first hospital in the state to achieve Joint Commission certification for sepsis care in 2024 – won numerous “Zero Harm” awards from the South Carolina Hospital Association, and its employed Medical Practice attained recognition in 2024 and 2023 as a Patient-Centered Medical Home from the National Center for Quality Assurance.

The hospital has also recently been featured in Becker’s Hospital Review’s listing of Top Community Hospitals, and Little has been included in Becker’s listing of Community Hospital CEOs to Know.

About Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center

As part of the ScionHealth network of hospitals, Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) provides high-quality healthcare services to the people of several counties in northeastern South Carolina. Patients have come to rely on our experienced, skilled staff and physicians to provide them with the highest level of care and compassion. Through the facilities on our campus, including a 116-bed acute care hospital and an adjoining medical office building, we provide comprehensive services with two things in mind: the care and comfort of our patients. Learn more about CPRMC at www.cprmc.com.