CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter said he is focused on several priorities in his first weeks as CEO, including the release of "the nation's largest and most comprehensive nursing residency program," in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Utah.

• District of Columbia: Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first lady Jill Biden, on Sunday announced that the first lady ended her isolation period after she tested negative for the coronavirus. Last week, the first lady tested positive for the coronavirus while vacationing in South Carolina with President Joe Biden. "After isolating for five days and receiving negative results from two consecutive COVID-19 tests, the First Lady will depart South Carolina later today for Delaware," Alexander said. (Saric, Axios, 8/21)

• Illinois: CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter, who recently joined the 140-hospital system, said he is focusing on several priorities to help the organization succeed in a post-Covid world. In particular, Lassiter said the health system is addressing the labor shortage by creating an internal staffing agency and nursing residency program to strengthen its workforce, which currently includes 150,000 employees in 21 states. "We're working this fall to initiate what we expect will be the nation's largest and most comprehensive nursing residency program," Lassiter told Modern Healthcare. "We're thinking about how to take new grad nurses and create an experience that would hopefully keep them in the field," he added. "What healthcare across the country is facing is that a lot of new grads come to realize that, 'Maybe this isn't exactly what I thought it would be.'" (Kacik, Modern Healthcare, 8/22)

• Utah: Intermountain Healthcare on Friday named Lydia Jumonville interim CEO while it conducts its search for departing CEO Marc Harrison's successor. Previously, Jumonville served as CEO of SCL Health prior to its merger with Intermountain in April. Jumonville's appointment follows Harrison's announcement that he plans to leave the health system to join venture capital firm General Catalyst. Intermountain's board is conducting a nationwide search for Harrison's permanent successor, which it hopes to name by the fall. "The healthcare world is ever changing, but our mission remains constant," said Intermountain Board of Trustees chair Mike Leavitt. "We have established a best-in-class leadership team, a sound strategic path forward and we remain steadfast in our commitment to helping people live the healthiest lives possible." (Kacik, Modern Healthcare, 8/19)