Samaritan board to do background check, write contract

MOSES LAKE - The Samaritan Healthcare Board of Directors might select a new chief executive officer at its March 28 meeting.

Board members did not release a name, but at a special meeting March 11 they voted to designate Julie Weisenberg and Dale Paris to conduct a background check and write a contract for one of the CEO finalists.

The two finalists were Thomas Thompson, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Kathy Romano, of Spokane. Thompson currently is a health care consultant, and prior to that he was the chief executive officer for Essentia Health in Detroit Lakes.

Romano currently is a vice-president at Sacred Heart Medical Center and prior to that was employed at hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area.

The winner will replace interim CEO Joe Sharp, who replaced Andrew Bair, who resigned last summer after some physicians who use the hospital took a vote of no-confidence in Bair.

Thompson and Romano each met with local doctors, hospital staff, the administrative team and a panel of community leaders. Participants were asked to fill out a form following the meeting, giving their impressions of each candidate.

Board members reviewed all the information in executive session. They will have an announcement, whether there's a new CEO or a new round of interviews, at the March 28 meeting.