Lake Chelan Health conducting search for permanent CEO

information released by Lake Chelan Health

During the Tuesday November 30,2021 Board of Commissioners regularly scheduled monthly meeting, Lake Chelan Health Board of Commissioners approved a contract with NetworxHealth LLC to hire Interim Chief Executive Officer, Emmett Schuster if a permanent CEO is not appointed by January 19, 2022.

Mr. Schuster has a master’s in healthcare services administration (MHSA) and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).  Emmett Schuster brings over 25 years’ experience as CEO of rural health care facilities and Critical Access Hospitals, including hospitals in Washington State.

Mr. Schuster is not a candidate for the permanent CEO position.

The Board is currently conducting the search for a new CEO following the resignation of George Rohrich on October 23, 2021. The recruitment process for a new CEO can often take over three to six months.

Transition Committee Chair and Board member Jeremy Jaech shared that “the Board and Transition Committee are making excellent progress evaluating the qualifications of CEO applicants.”

In October, the Board appointed Cheryl Cornwell, Chief Financial Officer to serve as temporary part-time Interim CEO.

Emmett Schuster, Interim CEO

Board Chair Mary Murphy shared that “Ms. Cornwell, in addition to her full-time CFO responsibilities, is managing key CEO duties very well since October 23, 2021. The Board is pleased with the work she has been able to accomplish. The Board recognizes that a full-time Interim CEO will provide the additional support necessary to keep momentum on many important projects underway now and in 2022, such as the new hospital construction, 2022 Strategic Plan, quality initiatives, and recruiting health practitioners. The full-time Interim CEO will also allow Ms. Cornwell to meet the increasing demands of her CFO duties and continuing to strengthen the finances of Lake Chelan Health.”

Founded in 1948, Lake Chelan Health hospital is a DNV accredited Critical Access Hospital with supporting Express Care and Specialty Care clinics in Chelan, Washington.  The health system provides a 24-hour emergency room, surgical center, inpatient, labor and delivery services, as well as physical, speech and occupational rehabilitative therapy.