Salem Township Hospital President and CEO Alex Nazarian has resigned as of the end of November.
The hospital board introduced Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Ambuehl as the interim president and CEO as a search is conducted for a new president.
“Hopefully we can stay around the Midwest. We will be giving them certain criteria we want them to follow for CEO. Just a well-rounded, good communicator that can communicate with staff. Intelligent when it comes to the financial side of things but yet understand portions of the clinical side.
Ambuehl made it clear she is not interested in the position permanently.
She moves into her new position during a busy time for the hospital.
“We are still trying to finish up the parking lot, the A-Wing construction is going on as planned and we are hoping to open by the end of February. We are currently working on a new design for the Emergency Room-Ooperating Room renovation. That is still in the early stages. And the implementation of Epic is going forward also.”
Ambuehl says Epic will provide the new electronic patient record system. The goal is to get the contract in place so training can begin as soon as January. She reported the steps from the lower front parking lot to the front of the hospital are now installed with a temporary handrail until the correct handrail arrives.
The hospital board approved the appointment of Family Nurse Practitioner Marianne Guthrie to the medical staff. She will be working in the Rural Health Care Center replacing Emily Vanutyrin who has resigned.
Ambuehl announced the hospital would be part of the Salem Home Show scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd. The hospital will have low-cost blood test vouchers will be available for purchase.
Chief Financial Officer Amy Gray announced the hospital had gross revenue favorable to budget for November and currently has the equivalent of 213 full-time employees.
