SALINAS, Calif- The hunt is on for a new CEO at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare Systems. The plan is to put the drama over previous leadership behind them. But the question is will it work?
On Thursday, SVMH decided to hire an LA based search firm for $130,000. The goal is to find a permanent CEO who will eventually be paid anywhere from $300,000 to $550,000 a year.
"They would've had a permanent CEO much earlier if the issue of affiliation hadn't been there and that was not the time to try and recruit a new CEO. We weren't even sure what our future would be, whether it would be with another system or as standalone," said SVMH public information officer Adrienne Laurent.
About a year ago, SVMH considered merging with Natividad Medical Center. Some criticized the effort, saying it was all about money. But SVMH said that was never the case and claimed a merger didn't make sense for it's patients or employees at the time.
The hospital wasn't clear on how this search will be different from the last. But they said it's possible a hospital merger may be discussed with new candidates who interview for the job.
SVMH has come under fire several times for some of its financial decisions. In December 2010, about 200 workers were laid off. Then about five months later, its former CEO Sam Downing received a retirement package worth nearly $4 million dollars, making him the highest paid public hospital official in the state. That prompted a state audit.
"The scrutiny by the state audit was sometimes difficult, I think eventually it's going to make us stronger, a better healthcare system and wherever there wasn't transparency, now there is," Laurent said.
SVMH said it's ready to put the past behind them. They hope hiring a new CEO with help them do just that. But the hospital isn't out of the woods yet. Interim CEO Lowell Johnson, was accused by union leaders of mis-spending. He requested an audit on himself which will be out in September and the new CEO is expected to take over by the first of next year. People who use the hospital, hope SVMH gets it right this time.
"I just want them to do it the right way, you know do what they need to do the right way. There's a lot of people that count on them here," said customer Joey Hathcock.
