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NRMC names new CEO
Published Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Natchez — Embattled Natchez Regional Medical Center has a new face in the CEO office.
Quorum Health Resources, a Brentwood, Tenn., management company that currently has a management contract with Natchez Regional, named Jim Richardson as the new CEO Monday.
The announcement came shortly before the hospital’s board of trustees met Monday morning. The news came as a bit of a surprise at least one board member said privately.
Richardson replaces former CEO Jeff Wesselman, who turned in his resignation last month. Wesselman was immediately relieved of duty at NRMC but said he is still employed by Quorum.
Quorum Vice President Chip Holmes said the decision was “in the best interest of Jeff and the hospital.”
Richardson has years of experience working with hospitals in troubled or transition stages, Holmes said.
“When you see Jim’s bio, you’ll see that his skill set and his experience will make him uniquely qualified to help the hospital with the challenges this hospital is facing,” Holmes said.
Although Richardson’s biographical information was not immediately available Tuesday, Wesselman said he understands Richardson to be a former Navy fighter pilot and highly skilled, working “exclusively in turnaround situations” for Quorum.
Despite being disappointed that he was unable to turn Regional around, Wesselman is optimistic about the hospital’s future.
“I know that Natchez Regional provides a great service and there’s a lot of great people working there,” he said. “I wish nothing but the best for it and I hope it becomes successful.”
The surprise move in naming a new interim CEO underscores Quorum’s existing management with NRMC.
Last month, Natchez Regional’s Board of Trustees voted to terminate Quorum’s contract, but that vote did not officially sever ties with company.
Since Quorum has a valid contract that doesn’t expire until September 2009, it’s not as easy as simply saying, “goodbye.”
“It’s the intention of the board to discuss the early termination of the contract,” board attorney Walter Brown said Tuesday. “Even if you have cause (to break the contract) you have to give them official notice.”
Parting company with Quorum will take some time, Brown said.
“It’s clear we need a transition period,” he said.
Holmes said no formal notification had been given to Quorum, despite the board’s informal attempt to sever the relationship, but hinted that it was certainly possible.
“If either party were, in the opinion of the other party, to breach that contract, there are provisions to end the contract,” Holmes said.
Quorum is paid approximately $200,000 per year to help the board of trustees locate a CEO and CFO to run the hospital, along with offering certain professional services and consulting services.
“Truthfully we’re all just focused on the hospital now,” Holmes said.
Comments
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I understand this article, they are paid $200,000. just to help find the CEO and CFO. This does not even go towards their salaries. This is because the board is not spending their own money, but ours.
I should become some kind of consultant. I could make a killing in Natchez. That is what they spend the majority of the tax dollars on, it seems. Let's see, I am already a recreational expert having played in the streets of Natchez for years and climbed up and down the bluffs every chance I got(also got spanked for it when caught). Didn't do drugs, didn't hang on the street corners, so it must have been pretty entertaining.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Quorum Health Resources PUTS hospitals in bankrupcy and has a reputation for that! Doomed I tell ya, totally doomed until they get away from Quorum.
Posted by youneverknow (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, let's ask some of the people that worked at IP how this work's. Have one guy come in -everything goes downhill.
Send in another guy to wrap up the shutdown. Oh ,we can't they had to move to be able to live. Maybe a class will be offered for anger management. I believe IP worker's had one.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is like being elected the Captain of the Titantic after you have already hit the iceberg.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 12, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jim Richardson and the Board may be able to save this sinking ship.
Now, there will be some unhappy people/employees because very unpopular decisions will have to be made.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RED, could not have said it better!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
at least they moved quickly to make a replacement
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Frog, I am in the WRONG line of work!!!
Posted by justoneopinion (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FROG: When has any of your tax dollars paid for anything at NRMC. It hasn't.....not yet!! Not one cent!!!!
Posted by memorytalk (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know someone who worked at NRMC when Quorum was brought in and employees that did their homework then knew that it would be the beginning of the end for the hospital. This guy is setting back now (at a much better job) and saying, "we all knew this was going to happen! It just took a little time, but it is exactly what we expected to happen".
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So we are stuck with Quorum until 2009? Meanwhile the hospital just gets deeper and deeper in debt.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess things could be worse, they could have elected Curly Joe Howard as the new CEO.
Or would that have made any difference right now?
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW IS A NEW CEO GONNA SAVE THE HOSPITAL WHEN THEY CANT EVEN PAY THE WORKERS NOW?THEY NEED A NEW OWNER,NOT A NEW CEO.
Posted by seakmr (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For once I agree with supertrucker. I know I am waiting to see if I get my pay Thursday.
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