The Evergreen Medical Center in Kirkland announced their interim chief executive officer on Feb 4.
According to a press release, Seattle resident Lowell Johnson has been selected by the Board of Commissioners for the King County Public Hospital District No. 2 to fill in for current CEO Steve Brown once he steps down from the position. Johnson, who carries nearly 40 years of medical experience, will join Evergreen on Feb. 15.
Johnson has worked for Illinois Blue Cross and served as the senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore.
Brown announced his resignation Dec. 17 to become the President and CEO of the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Penn. He said that he wanted to be closer to family.
Brown came to the hospital during tumultuous times, when the Board of Commissioners had given the previous CEO a vote of no confidence in 2002.
In January, the Board of Commissioners formed an internal search committee. The team consists of all five commissioner members, two medical staff leaders, two community advisors, and an Evergreen Foundation board member.
The board hired the healthcare search firm Quick Leonard Kieffer to oversee the national search for the candidates. The same group hired Brown in 2002. They hope to find a new CEO by June.
“The Board of Commissioners thanks Steve for the outstanding legacy he leaves Evergreen Hospital,” the board said in a statement. “We are grateful for his years of service to Evergreen, and we wish him well.”
The economy is the biggest issue that is facing Brown and the next CEO, according to Sherry Grindeland, media coordinator for Evergreen. The demands for medical services continue, even though people have trouble paying for them. Brown’s challenge has been trying to balance the budget and pay costs.
“Through prudent management, Evergreen has been able to do that,” said Gridleland, referring to the 2009 budget. “Steve was very happy because we were able to do it without layoffs or cutting of services.”
Despite the hardships associated with the recession, Gridleland said Brown’s departure is not detrimental to Evergreen’s operations.
In addition to overseeing a vast expansion of the hospital campus, Brown established EverCARE, an internal program to honor the hospital’s employees.
Throughout Brown’s eight years as CEO, he was widely respected by the hospital staff.
“One of the most remarkable things about Steve is that he knows everybody’s name,” Gridleland said. “He will stop employees in the hall and chat with them and ask about their families. He really cares about them … and the patients.”
