After five weeks of longer student waits and a steady stream of employee exits, Ohio University has recruited Steve Swart, former chief financial officer for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, to oversee Hudson Health Center.
Swart will enhance the current student feedback system, improve financial efficiency and fill a number of employee vacancies, said Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs.
The troubled health center, which a consultant concluded in 2007 had been underfunded for years, has been crippled by employee departures this fall. Plans to renovate Hudson stalled last fall amid budget concerns, despite Smith's long-standing concerns about what he called an unhealthy center.
Last spring, Medical Director John Cunningham announced his retirement, and a search committee was unable to find a replacement, Smith said.
Cunningham's retirement was compounded by the recent announcements that Interim Director of Student Health Services Jackie Legg will retire at the end of the month and Director of Nursing Kyla Lee accepted a new job and will leave next week.
Everything happened at once
and it's impacting student wait times Smith said, adding that he could not wait until next quarter to bring in external help without compromising services. With H1N1 and a busy season in general I needed someone there running the day-to-day operation.
Swart currently serves as CEO of Doctors Hospital of Nelsonville, one of eight Ohio Health member hospitals, which Smith hopes will help him fill vacancies at Hudson.
(Swart) has access to possibly the largest health provider in the state
Smith said. He'll have access to and potentially be able to hire doctors and nurses from across the state.
Swart's position at Ohio Health caused confusion among some employees, who feared OU would outsource all health services. Smith sent out an e-mail last week stressing that Ohio Health will supplement, not replace, current staff.
An OU alumnus, Swart is no stranger to health care in Athens. In addition to his time at the College of Medicine, he served as chief executive officer and chief financial officer for University Medical Associates, a private practice run by the college's doctors and O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.
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Wesley Lowery
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Kyle Grantham | director of photography
Hudson Health Center has experienced many changes recently.
