When Robert Malte drove into Kirkland for the first time for an interview at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, he thought the place felt almost like home.

A few months later, Malte, of Littleton, Colo. would be able to call it just that when the hospital’s board of directors chose him as the next Chief Executive Officer at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center.

The former CEO at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo., Malte was selected after the hospital’s board of directors completed an exhaustive search where more than 125 people applied. The board said in a press release that they were impressed with the Chicago native’s prior medical leadership and his strong ties to his community in Littleton.

“I’m glad I didn’t know there were 125 people, maybe that would have been a little intimidating,” Malte said. “I had a really great sense that this would be a great place to lead … This is something I feel like I’ve been preparing for throughout my career.”

In fact, that is how Malte has always looked at his career: that one job would help lead him to the next one. He assumed the position of CEO on May 10.

Malte’s other posts include senior vice president at ThedaCare and CEO at Touchpoint Health Plan in Appleton, Wiscon.

And Malte’s timing couldn’t have been better. He replaces a highly respected CEO — Steve Brown — who left in February to become President/CEO of the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Penn.

On top of that, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center was ranked in January among the nation’s top five percent of hospitals, according to an independent study of mortality and complication rates by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. Evergreen is the only King County hospital to achieve the honor.

Although Malte’s career in healthcare spans 32 years, he admits it was not a calling from a very young age.

“There is a phrase, ‘accidents and inspiration lead you to your destination’—it’s actually a song,” Malte said. “That phrase just resonates with me because there’s a lot of things, I think, in all of our lives … [that are] accidental … you didn’t plan on and those things that are somehow inspirational … that’s part of my story.”

While he was working on bachelor’s degree in economics at Ripon College in Wisconsin, unsure of what he wanted to do, he worked as a medical records file room clerk at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Then, a young hospital administrator befriended him and introduced him to a career of healthcare administration. That “accident” would eventually lead to a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1982.

“I just loved the environment, I loved the work we do, I loved the physicians and I loved the fact that we made a difference in peoples lives,” Malte said.

While CEO at Exempla, Malte saw the construction of a new 5-story tower that costs $600 million and committee to oversee the implementation of the new healthcare reform law.

Malte was a respected CEO at Exempla and “didn’t take no for an answer” when it came to his goals –like patient satisfaction –said Ann Evans, Chief Nursing Officer at the Wheat Ridge Colo. hospital.

“He said, ‘by the end of the year, we will be seeing a 20 percent improvement. Come back next week and show me a plan,’” Evans said. “He had a great ability to have a goal picture in mind.”

According to a press release, Malte oversees 900 physicians, representing over 50 specialties, providing care in all major services including cardiac, oncology, surgery and maternity care as the Evergreen Hospital Medical Center’s new CEO.

“Evergreen is in the position to be a leader in healthcare reform as opposed to a responder to healthcare reform,” Malte said.

Malte’s “prescription” for Evergreen: Continue growth in primary care; improve the computerized physician/provider order entry, the computer system that allows direct entry of medical orders by the physician to the patient; continue installing the electronic medical records database; continue to advance specially care programs and “create an environment where people can do the best.”

“Evergreen is truly a remarkable healthcare system,” Malte said. “It’s got a very sophisticated and committed group of physicians –in fact probably the most committed group of physicians that I have ever met and I thought I had met really engaging physicians.”

Ever since Malte started his days have been full. Aside from the everyday administrative tasks he must accomplish he has spent much time walking the halls of the hospital meeting with patients and staff. It was his idea to hold town hall meetings in the auditorium at Evergreen, holding them at different times of the day, so that he could introduce himself. He jokes that his first month as CEO is like being “a sponge with a brain” because most of his job is about listening to those around him and learning.

He is married and has two children, 14 and 12. His family will join him in Kirkland in August.