Interim CEO named for hospital district
Staff reporter
An interim chief executive officer/administrator has been secured for St. Luke Hospital, Living Center, and Marion County Home Care.
Current CEO Thom Smith made the announcement Thursday at a special board meeting of Marion County Hospital District #1.
Emmett Schuster of Hugo, Okla., will arrive in Marion today (Wednesday) to begin his assignment as an employee of QHR, the district's consulting firm.
Previously, Schuster had served as an on-site project officer for a new community hospital building in Oconto, Wis.
He had just returned from active duty as a battalion commander in Iraq.
From 1996 to 2000, he served as CEO/administrator of Greenwood County Hospital, Eureka.
Smith's last day is Friday.
In other business:
— The board approved a change in check signers for hospital payroll and accounts payable.
Currently, Smith and board president Gene Winkler are the signers. With Smith's departure, Dolbee suggested two of the newer board members be the signers because they will be on the board for three years while other board members will be elected in the coming years.
The board appointed Judy Reno and Ken Vinduska as the official signers. Signature plates at a cost of $500 will be made.
— Dolbee and Smith requested and received permission from the board to pay vendors weekly instead of every two weeks.
Currently, the district is paying late charges and not able to take advantage of discounts for early payments because personnel has to wait until the board approves check registers at the meetings.
Technically, the checks already have been approved by authorized personnel and the board approves the check registry per statute.
Dolbee assured the board she reviews all vouchers before checks are mailed and there would be no lost level of security. She also reported department heads are diligent in knowing the amounts owed for services and products.
Reno asked if being a taxing entity required prior approval before checks are mailed. Smith said he was told by QHR that other districts do it this way.
Smith also asked the board to consider meeting once a month instead of two times. Since the meetings are more streamlined with a consent agenda, the meetings could be held at noon instead of evening.
The topic will be discussed at an upcoming board retreat.
Skiles requested explanations be included with check registries to explain purpose of payment.
— Smith reported surgeon recruitment was continuing. A surgeon who will be hired by Newman Regional Health, Emporia, also was interested in serving the district. He is a surgical resident and will be available next summer.
Dr. Stephen Cranston continues to be available to perform surgeries as needed but no longer does clinicals at Marion.
Smith recommended recruitment continue for a surgeon until one is contracted. If no one is contracted before the resident arrives next summer, then consider a contract with him.
Skiles said he was concerned with the qualifications of a general surgeon and whether he or she would be willing to perform the wide range of services Cranston provides.
Smith said he and hospital staff had reviewed the qualifications of expertise desired and determined ambulatory day surgeries would be the emphasis.
— A retreat for board members and hospital personnel will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 29. Leslie Mussetter of QHR, will oversee the work and strategy session which will conclude with the regular monthly board meeting at 5 p.m. The retreat and board meeting will be held at Country Dreams, rural Marion.
This retreat and board meeting are open to the public.
— Dolbee reported district auditors will be on-site this week for the annual audit.
— The board approved vouchers for $176,717. Included in that amount were a $4,000 payment to the district's auditor; $2,250 to Hett Construction of Marion, for concrete work; and $2,875 to Marion Chamber of Commerce for Christmas gifts for employees.
The next board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 at Country Dreams.
