ARCHIVE

Hospital has interim chief finance officer

Staff reporter

Hank DeBragga of Angier, N.C., is used to living in a small community.

DeBragga is the interim chief financial officer at St. Luke Hospital and Living Center, until the hospital board hires a permanent employee.

Angier, 25 miles south of Raleigh, has a population of 3,500. So, coming to Marion is similar to home.

The hospital's management consultant, Quorum Health Resources, actually provided the interim CFO to the facility as part of the contractual services.

"One of the advantages of having a management company like Quorum is that it does its best to minimize gaps when personnel leave," DeBragga said.

Moving to new facilities every six months or so, definitely has its challenges.

"My biggest challenge serving as an interim is learning complex software programs," DeBragga explained.

The highly qualified officer earned a bachelor of arts and master's degrees in business administration, and is a certified public accountant.

He has more than 20 years experience working in hospitals, 15 of those years with Quorum.

He has been in the interim position for about two and one-half years.

"This is a good time in my life to do this type of work," he explained. One son has graduated from college, and another will be a senior.

Even though he's more than qualified to handle the work load of his profession, constant changes in hospital and health regulations can be challenging.

The focus of his work at St. Luke Hospital will be ongoing management of accounts receivable, development of the 2006 operating budget, strengthening skills on computer software, and day-to-day operations.

About two times a month, DeBragga will return home to Angier to visit, but is looking forward to becoming acquainted with the Marion community.

"I am very impressed with Marion's downtown district," he commented. "It's very clean and kept-up in an exceptional manner."

In his spare time, DeBragga is interested in local history and historical places, and likes sightseeing.

He decided to work in interim positions to gain experience working with various computer systems and meeting people.

DeBragga's last interim assignment before coming to Marion was in Warm Springs, Ga.

"It was similar in size to St. Luke with similar challenges of being managed by a company and then became independent," he said.

His impressions of the hospital also have been favorable.

"St. Luke is on very solid financial footing," DeBragga said. "Clinical services offered are very appropriate for the community."

He sees his work as more than a job.

"Workers in the health care field provide a community service," DeBragga said.

Quantcast