Board pursuing plans to affiliate with another entity
North Sonoma County Health Care District Board Chair James Nantell this week announced the departure of CEO Nancy Schmid and the appointment of Joseph Harrington as Interim CEO. After four years at the helm of Healdsburg District Hospital, which resulted in a successful financial turnaround, Schmid and the health care district board have agreed not to pursue an extension to her contract, which expires at the end of 2017.
Nancy Schmid assumed her duties as CEO in March, 2013 at a time when the hospital was struggling financially, primarily due to delays in hospital billings and collection for services provided. According to a hospital press release, Schmid, who had previous experience turning around other hospitals in similar situations, undertook her responsibilities with a deep commitment and dedication to the job at hand.
Because of her past experiences Schmid was able to use her previous relationships to bring financial and accounts payable experts on an interim basis to put the systems in place to address the situation.
Nantell stated “that the board and the community served by North Sonoma County Health Care District owe a debt of gratitude to Nancy Schmid and her work to reverse the downward spiral of the finances of our hospital.”
A year ago, once having made the necessary changes, Schmid worked with the health care district board to focus its attention on the possibilities for strategic alliance with one or more potential partners as a way to further strengthen the long term viability of the local hospital and health care services.
Schmid will continue to be available to the hospital and board for the remainder of her contract, which ends in December. However, day to day CEO duties will be handled by Interim CEO Joseph Harrington. This three month overlap began Oct. 2.
According to the health care district, Harrington has over 35 years of experience as a hospital administrator in California, Arizona and Pennsylvania at four different hospitals. Most recently he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Lodi Memorial Hospital from1993 until 2015. Lodi Memorial is a 214-bed private nonprofit acute care hospital. Harrington successfully ushered Lodi Memorial though a partnership process that resulted in an affiliation with Adventist Health West in 2015.
Vice chair Sue Campbell, who led a search subcommittee of the North County Health Care District Board of Directors, stated that, “the committee was highly impressed with Mr. Harrington’s references that praised his skills as an administrator and manager of staff, as well as his success in transitioning Lodi Memorial to a partnership with Adventist Health West.”
Harrington is expected to serve as Interim CEO until the conclusion of partnership discussions, which are expected to be concluded by the end of 2018.
— submitted by Carrie Wilson
Hospital welcomes new surgeon
General Surgeon, Dr. Joseph M. Tito, has joined the staff at Healdsburg Physician Group (owned by Healdsburg District Hospital). According to a press release issued by the hospital, “Although Dr. Tito’s experience brings a broad range of surgical expertise, he is highly regarded for his laparoscopic surgical procedures.”
Tito arrived from Morton Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts where he practiced as a general surgeon for the past 11 years. While with Morton Hospital, he held numerous leadership roles including president of the medical staff from 2012 to 2014. He received his MD Degree from Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York.
According to Tito, “Healdsburg District Hospital presented a great opportunity for my wife and I to relocate to an area we have been frequent visitors to over the years. I am looking forward to the opportunities the hospital gives me to have not only direct patient contact, but an ability to know the various staff associated with the patient’s health, from dietitians to physicians. That is an experience found primarily in smaller facilities and one that I prefer.”
“The strength of our hospital can be found in the quality of medical professionals like Dr. Tito eager to become a member of our team. Healdsburg District Hospital is excited to welcome Dr. Tito and I am certain his work will be greatly appreciated by the many patients who look to our hospital for their surgical needs,” said Nancy Schmid, CEO of HDH.
— submitted by Carrie Wilson
