Samaritan Healthcare CEO resigns

Administration undergoes a shift with other staff movement

After 11 years of balancing the demands of patients, the board of commissioners and hospital staff, Keith Baldwin's time at Samaritan Healthcare has ended.

Baldwin resigned at last night's board meeting of Grant County Public Hospital District No. 1.

He has worked for over a decade in the capacity of CEO/administrator of Samaritan Healthcare and as superintendent of the hospital district, which owns Samaritan.

Tom Frick, hospital board chairman, said that Baldwin and the board came to a "mutual agreement" for the board to look for someone new as the CEO/administrator.

"I would say the majority of the board felt it was time for change," Frick said. "Once Keith realized it, he was agreeable to it."

In the interim, Baldwin's work duties will be split between the employees in Samaritan's administration. Frick estimated that the search for Baldwin's replacement could take between five to six months.

"I think what the public expects is that we find the best qualified person we feel we can afford," Frick said.

Baldwin will be available for support for an additional 90-days during the transitional period.

Last night, Frick said that Baldwin will receive nine months worth of severance pay. Baldwin's annual salary is $132,995. The hospital district will also pay for outplacement assistance. The outplacement assistance could include the use of a professional employment service.

A press release from Samaritan said that the board of commissioners will be developing a transition plan, which may involve interim administration and a recruitment committee. The committee will search to fill the superintendent/CEO position.

Before Baldwin came to Samaritan, he worked for Washington State University/Spokane in its area health education center, managing the office of rural health.

During a Friday afternoon interview, Baldwin said that he resigned because there are enough new board members who can implement the type of leadership they think will bring the hospital to the next level of patient care.

"I want the community to feel like they have a great resource in the community and will continue to support it," Baldwin said. "I hope the community sees how important it is to have a hospital in Moses Lake."

The hospital is an important financial factor in the community. Annually, the hospital pays out $18 million in employee salaries, Baldwin said.

Under Baldwin's tenure, growth and change in health care did happen for the area. Over the years, the number of local physicians nearly tripled, the hospital master plan was completed, Pioneer Medical Center was built (for physician's offices and outpatient hospital support services) and a computer and information system was implemented at the hospital.

Financially speaking, Samaritan appears to be doing well. At last night's board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Terry Litke told the board that the hospital brought in over $7 million in revenues for the month of March.

Another main administrative change happened at the beginning of this month with the resignation of Randy Bibe, the hospital's assistant administrator for patient care services.

Bibe began working for Samaritan in 2001 as surgical services director and was promoted to the assistant administrator position the following year. Before his departure, his title changed to chief nursing officer/assistant administrator of patient care.

Bibe was employed with Samaritan for more than 3 years. On Sunday evening, Bibe was reached at his Kennewick home. He confirmed his resignation and said it was for personal reasons.

Maureen King, the current director of Samaritan's intensive care unit, is filling Bibe's vacancy for the interim.