Top level changes continue at CMC

Following the change in Coulee Medical Center’s top manager last month, three more high-level executives will be leaving the hospital, Interim Chief Executive Officer Debbie Bigelow announced last week, and more changes are coming.

In the medical center’s “Communicator” emailed newsletter issued Thursday, Bigelow said the next to leave would be Chief Operating Officer Alan Wagner, Chief Financial Officer Joe Vessey and Director of Communications and Marketing Steve Becker.

With CMC for nearly four years, Wagner “has played a key role in professionalizing our day to day operations,” Bigelow said. His last day is June 1 and he will open his own consulting company, she said.

Vessey will leave in early to mid June after completion of several projects. With CMC for two years, he has “contributed in significant ways to our current financial stability and positive outlook,” Bigelow said. She named Shawna Miller as the interim CFO.

Becker, who had been then-governor Chris Gregoire’s spokesman at a ceremony for the new hospital project, will be leaving as of July 1. With the hospital since August, 2012, Becker “helped us sharpen our image and marketing outreach,” Bigelow said.

Bigelow worked as director of community outreach before being appointed CEO by the hospital district commission in April, and had been CFO for many years before that. She was appointed CEO following the resignation of Scott Graham, following months of community and internal turmoil over the direction of the hospital.

Bigelow said the hospital district commissioners are “actively engaged in the search for a permanent CEO,” and the hospital will also recruit a new CFO.

“There will be more personnel changes ahead,” Bigelow told employees with the special issue of the newsletter. “We will adjust and recruit for the very best people to fill positions that open during this time of leadership transition. These changes will continue over the next several weeks. It will be especially important during this time that we support each other and remain focused on what we all do, our best: caring for our patients, their families and our community.”