Six fight for three St. Luke Hospital board positions

 

This map indicates those who are eligible to vote on the St. Luke Hospital and Living Center board positions. There are three positions on the ballet and six candidates. Voters will vote on May 30 at the board meeting located in the basement of the St. Luke Clinic.

 

St. Luke Hospital has entered a time of transition with the recent resignation of CEO Jeremy Ensey and now there is a fight for three seats on the hospital board.

There are three currently serving on the board on the ballot and they hope to continue while three other are hoping to take their seats. The three incumbents are Linda Carlson, Roger Hannaford and Suzanne Robinson. The three hoping to take their spots are Rose Davidson, Dan Holub and Gene Winkler.

The Free Press emailed all candidates the same questions in order to help voters get to know them better. Here are the questions and the unedited answers each candidate sent back. The incumbents are first in alphabetical order followed by the others.

Linda Carlson

1) How long have you been on the board? How do you feel you have done in your role as board member?

I was first elected in 2011 to fill an unexpired term for a board member who resigned. I have been re-elected 3 times. I feel that I have done my absolute best to maintain our hospital and help it to grow and be financially sound.

2) Why would you like to continue to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans?

I would like to continue to serve because I feel there is a need for continuing healthcare in our

community and county. I would like to see us continue to add new services and maintain and grow our current ones. I always do my best to encourage people to use our doctors and hospital. I also do my best to encourage those who have to go elsewhere for other services to return to Marion for their therapy if they need it. I feel we need to support and encourage all of our staff members when needed and recognize their achievements. Although the board is not responsible for the actual hiring I think they need to know that we do support them.

3) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

When I was first approached about filling a position on the board I really didn’t know what all was involved. I feel like the first year or two someone who is not a healthcare professional is always learning something. I think that having some members who have served are a benefit when making decisions. The past two years navigating the pandemic and coming out financially sound on the other side are something that the our employees and the board as a whole should be proud to have been a part of.

4) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

The division between and controversy over the way certain business of the hospital were handled is something that will have to be dealt with. I think everyone should realize that hospital board meetings are open meetings and can be attended by anyone in the district. Our CEO/administrator has given his notice and a replacement will need to be hired. That will not be an easy job with the way healthcare is and I think having experienced people on the board will help with the process.

5) Anything else voters should know?

There has been much said about the way that legal issues were handled in recent months. I felt like

I did my best to act in the best interests of the hospital even though others were not always handling things professionally. The issues discussed openly will hopefully be able to be resolved for all involved. Issues with government controlled programs are not always handled easily or quickly and all parties will hopefully be able to work together in the future.

Roger Hannaford

1) How long have you been on the board? How do you feel you have done in your role as board member?

I’ve been on the board for five months—just arriving on the board in January. I think I have done a good job. There was definitely a steep learning curve to catch up on and still much more to learn such as hospital procedures, financials, activities, and the issues that we’re confronting them. I do believe we are moving in the right direction to continue to make St. Luke Hospital an outstanding health facility.

2) Why would you like to continue to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans?

I feel very honored to serve on this important board. We have plans to enlarge the physical therapy area, which is much needed and I’m looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of hiring a new CEO and continue our excellent care in the St. Luke Living Center, which my mother Lavonne now resides and calls home.

3) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

I have a business background of over 40 years. Common sense. I have served on many boards in the community of Marion and also the Marion Florence USD 408 School Board for several terms. And most important, I believe, in total transparency for this board serving St. Luke and its patrons.

4) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

Having well qualified and outstanding staff such as nurses, doctors, and other staff members who work for the hospital. Hiring an exceptional CEO to lead St. Luke and maintaining our vision that St. Luke will be the known leader in premier healthcare system in the region for progressive and sustainable services.

5) Anything else voters should know?

Voters should know that St. Luke and Living Center has the opportunity to continue to lead in great medical services in this area. I look forward to continue to serve you and I am open to visit with you anytime with your hospital concerns and I would appreciate your vote.

Suzanne Robinson

1) How long have you been on the board? How do you feel you have done in your role as board member?

I have been on the board for three years. During my term I feel I have learned and expanded my knowledge as a hospital board member. I feel as I have done my best to see that our hospital grows and maintains financial stability.

2) Why would you like to continue to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans?

I would like to continue to serve as a board member because I feel like I have been a part of a team who truly cares about maintaining our hospital. I feel this board has inspired to grow and maintain a facility that can care for our communities health care needs. We have an excellent staff and we want them to be happy in their workplace and want to stay long term. We want them to take care of us and all our community members. We want to continue to expand our services and provide more services in our therapy department.

3) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

I was asked to run for the position more than three years ago. The position was held by a Florence area resident. I agreed to run for the position and represent the Florence area residents. I have learned from current and former board members and continue to learn more each year. As a board we have faced many challenges with the Covid pandemic and financial difficulties and staffing issues. We as a board have faced these challenges with a professional and positive approach.

4) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

The hospital is currently dealing with issues and controversy over contracts with a local business. This has by far been the greatest challenge. We as board members have remained professional and committed to working through this matter. This matter can be resolved with working together and solving the problems together. We are also facing the challenge of replacing our administrator/CEO. I believe this will be a very difficult issue. With the shortage of healthcare workers, this could be hard to find a replacement in a short time period.
5) Anything else voters should know?

Our current board has worked diligently and professionally to resolve our current issues. I feel like we have the best interest of the hospital and our community. We would greatly appreciate everyone supporting us and letting us continue to serve our hospital.

Rose Davidson

1) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

Growing up, I was in 4-H for 10 years, where I learned Robert’s Rules of Order on how to run a meeting. As a 4-H club president, and now as Marion County Republican Chair, I have put this skill into practice.

As an accounting manager at a large corporation for 8 years, I have the business and accounting knowledge to help me grasp the business side of St. Luke’s Hospital.

As an adult parenting an ailing parent, I have dealt with emergency rooms, hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers in four different cities in Kansas, so I have become familiar with the health care system and also insurance billing and Medicare.

2) Why would you like to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans?

I attended the last hospital board meeting and witnessed firsthand what I was hearing and reading about. With my skill set and life experiences, I would like to help work towards compromise, resolution, and a positive path forward.

Both the hospital and the pharmacy are necessary to our community, so the division between them is not good for any of us. Yet, both have their version of the truth with the issues causing friction between them.

I think it is important to focus on the future and what needs to be done to re-establish a good relationship between them. I have researched the 340B program that seems to be the basis of their disagreement, and it is very confusing and difficult to understand, which makes it hard to determine what needs to be done.

3) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

Staffing shortages are a big issue with any business after the pandemic. Supply shortages are another ongoing problem. However, with the resignation of CEO Jeremy Ensey, the biggest short-term issue is finding his replacement.

4) Anything else voters should know?

We all have certain strengths, and if your strength can be used to serve the community in some fashion, then I encourage you to step forward and volunteer.

Dan Holub

1) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

I’ve been reading articles in the papers about some conflicts going on with the Hospital District, people are talking about it on the street, and I recently attended a Hospital District meeting that was well attended and at this meeting I witnessed stuff that up to then I was only getting second and third hand. I see a need for some changes to prevent issues like this from festering for years.

2) Why would you like to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans? DanHolubDCP5033

The best way for a person to effect change that he/she feels is needed is to get involved, and that means becoming a Board member. My goals and plans are simply to ensure adherence to the By-Laws, propose changes to the By-Laws as I see fit, and ensure openness in all matters relating to the Hospital District.

3) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

After the District meeting and learning how long a particular issue has been going on I was somewhat dismayed. The number of attendees at the the District meeting and overheard conversations indicated their was genuine concern from the public about the issue that was discussed that evening. I personally was concerned and considering the amount of time this has been going on without being resolved and hearing some comments from the board I felt this was not going to be resolved in the near term and it needs to be put to rest.

4) Anything else voters should know?

I have no agenda other than that stated above. I am not a one issue person by any means. For instance, having a board that Administers a vital County asset, levies taxes approaching a Million Dollars, with the District encompassing over half the County Townships, I find it ludicrous that Board elections are not on a regular election year ballot rather than at an Annual Meeting. This is one item I feel strongly about changing.

Gene Winkler

1)Why run again when you recently resigned? When did you serve on the board?

I was on the Board several years ago, for several terms. I decided to get back on the Board in 2021. I decided to get off the Board when I saw the way the Board was going. When you are 1 out of seven on a Board and every one but I was on your side, you can’t get anything done. When John Wheeler was made Board Chairman, you as an individual, had no say what so ever.

2) Tell a little about yourself in relation to the position.

I love the Hospital and I wanted to give back, by helping on the Board. Even after all the time I spent earlier, I still wanted to give more. Earlier when I was on the Board it was great, everyone worked together. That is why back in 2021 I got back on the Board. It was not the way I remembered the past Board. On every one of our agendas we had a line item for Public Comment. That was where anyone in the Hospital District could come and talk with the Board. Hardly ever did anyone come, but it was there. Then when Jeremy removed it from the agenda, that was wrong. That was when Jeremey said, along with the Board council, that if there was a problem, it needed to go thru Jeremy, cause that was his job for day to day operations. Well we can all see how that worked out.

3) Why would you like to serve on the board and what are your goals/plans?

When I resigned from the Board, I felt like I could not get some of the things I wanted to happen. Now fro the last month that I have been off the Board, I have learned so may things, how the Board works. Looking from the outside, I see that John and Byron Lange are in charge. They both are trying to tell the Board members what to say and when to do it. I am hopping that we get 3 new Board members on Board, so the board has someone that will think for themselves and stand up for what’s right. My goals are to make the Hospital Board to be Transparent with the Tax Payers. I hope that we can hire a new CEO that is personal with everyone that works for the Hospital and the many Doctors and Nurses, that serve our Hospital. He or She needs to be very out going and want to work with the employees and the Board. I am looking forward for a new start for the Hospital.

4) What are some of the biggest issues the hospital is currently facing?

The big thing that the Hospital right now, the Board is not wanting to work with Traci. I believe she has a lot of things and questions that need to be answered by the Board. John said they would get back to her in a week, with some answers. It has no been almost a Month. The Hospital Board does not want to have a deep audit with the 340B Drug program. Are they afraid there will be something found they don’t like? Don’t get me wrong our Hospital is in very good and financial state. I will say that Jeremy has done a lot of very good things to get us where we are now.

5) Anything else voters should know?

I believe to be a very good Board member, you need to be someone that sees something and then says something. You need to stand strong and try your best to make it happen. If you don’t do this, you shouldn’t be on a Board. Just like the present Board, John says “JUMP” and you have two choices. You can say “WHY” and make him explain “WHY” or you can stand there and say “HOW HIGH”. I hope all the people voting on May 30th are the ones that say “WHY”.

The election will take place at the St. Luke Hospital board meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30 in the basement of the hospital clinic where the meeting is held. Voters must be registered voters in the hospital district. According to the bylaws, newly elected board members will take their seat at the regular meeting scheduled in June.

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