Hospital’s Search For New CEO Delayed By Coronavirus

COVID-19, the highly contagious coronavirus that has hit all 50 states, is was causing some disruptions in Ste. Genevieve County even before any positive tests were reported.
The Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH) board’s search for a new chief executive officer (CEO) to succeed Tom Keim, who is retiring, has been slowed by the pandemic.
Rod Scherer, SGCMH board president and seach committee member, said Keim has agreed to stay on until a replacement is found.
The pandemic has affected the CEO search in two ways.
First, one board position is up for election, with three candidates seeking to replace a retiring board member. That election has been postponed from April 7 to June 2.
More than that, though, the type of candidate the board is seeking is now likely in the midst of managing a crisis situation.
“I talked to the recruiter last week and he said he’s got some real good leads, but with the coronavirus and everything that is going on there, he’s not really pushing until this is cleared up,” Scherer said. “Those folks we’re trying to recruit, they’re in a position now where they’re trying to fight this thing like everybody else.
“Nobody’s in a position to just up and leave at this point. He’s going to continue to contact prospective CEO’s, but we don’t think we’ll have anyone who can even come in for an interview for another two months or so.”
An executive who would abandon a current position in the midst of a health crisis would not be an ideal pick anyway.
“You wouldn’t want somebody who would do that, so we’re really not pushing for it,” Scherer said. “Fortunately, Tom Keim has told us he will continue on as long as it takes, so we don’t have to make a quick decision. We don’t want to settle for somebody; we want somebody of the same caliber we have with Tom Keim.”

See complete story in the April 1 edition of the Herald.