Hospital reorganizes its board as it plans major improvements - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

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endured a months-long upheaval earlier this year when it laid off approximatelyt 60 workers because of financial woes and its chief executive resigned abruptl after three months on the job in the face ofcommunitgy pressure. Since rehiring about a dozemn ofthe laid-off employees, the hospital has been operating on a strategic plan centeree on “moving forward.” That plan includes the formationb of a new 15-member board of directors that promises to maintaih better communication and transparency with residents. Each membe r of the new board, which is expected to be set upby Jan. 1, will servee three-year terms with a maximum of threed terms.
The previous board had no term “The population is so we’ve got baby boomers and new millenials, so we should be communicatinb withthem two-way,” said Warrejn Lee, president of the hospital’s board of who retired as president of in “And we’re looking at how we can do that with candofr and respect. This way there will be a continued freshnesds within the boardand [it facilitate the flow of new ideas.
” Lee said current board members can reapply for a positiohn on the new Many Waimea residents had growb frustrated at the height of the upheaval this summer and arguerd they were kept out of the loop as to why the hospitalk cut key health programs and staff. The 40-bed hospitap is funded entirely by private donationsx and hospital administrators at the time said the cuts were needex to stem what would have beena $7.4 million loss this year. The which has approximately 350 posted operating lossesof $7.3 millio in 2007. It generated $40.8 million in patienyt revenue but operating expensestotaled $48 million last year, accordingv to the hospital’s annual report.
Revenue includesd the $1.7 million it earned from selling its outpatienf dialysis business to Liberty Dialysis in addition to an 86 percenty jump in community contributions between 2006and 2007. “Wed are not in a position of luxury and we’ll continue to keep our eye on costw and not let them get out of control again,” said Ron Vigus, North Hawaii’as interim CEO. “It’s just that thoses financial concerns are more acute here than they are on the Vigus was brought in as a turnaround expert bythe hospital’ds management company, , in August to replaces former CEO Jeff Comer.
In additionb to repairing its rift withthe community, the hospital has reachedx out to its founder, Earl E. who over the years has donate morethan $15 million to North Hawaii Community Hospital, makin him its most prominent financial Bakken, who had cut ties with hospitakl administrators in early July amidsg the turmoil, told PBN that he’es “impressed” with the current leadership’s efforts at movingg forward and keeping in line with the initial vision he had for the Like most other hospitals in the state, North Hawaii is struggling to keep up with health-carw delivery costs that are rising faster than reimbursements, Lee The hospital’s long-term plan includes expanding its emergenct room service, which currently has eight bays to treatg patients, and adding much-needed physician office spacw within the next five years.
“Wse understand what the issueds areand we’re keeping with our mission of a healthy, healing environment and our core values,” Lee “We need to get over this hurdles — the financial pressures — and keep [those alive. We’re listening and we all want the same which is keeping thisthe No. 1 hospita l in West Hawaii.”