At a press conference earlier this week, St. Vincent Salem Hospital announced its CEO Lee Jaeger will be retired this summer.
Dana Muntz, the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, will serve as the day to day administrator of the hospital.
The hospital staff was informed about a week ago.
Jaeger’s decision was based on a decision to be closer to family and he will be moving to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Jaeger has worked in healthcare for 38 years. St. Vincent is the sixth facility he has worked for.
While in Washington County, Jaeger, and his wife, Mary, have served on several local boards and committees.
They have been involved with CASA, SOAR, the Exchange Club, the hospital auxiliary as well as volunteer work for various groups.
Muntz’s new role will help the hospital save money as well as bring knowledge of day to day patient care to the leadership role.
She came to Washington County Memorial Hospital in 2007 as Quality and Risk Management Director.
Board President Aaron Lee said about Muntz, “Dana is the obvious choice for the next leader of the hospital. She works well with the staff and relates to them well. It is exciting to see her come up from within the organization and to take on this lead role.”
Here’s a Recap of Last Three Years at St. Vincent:
Money/Capital Expenses
- Renovations and Repairs made possible through partnership with St.Vincent Health and Ascension Health
- Leaking roof replaced – $250,000 expense
- Chiller/AC replaced – over $300,000 expense
- New Emergency Generator – over $400,000 expense
- Parking lot repairs, landscaping
- Facility Upgrades – with assistance/funds provided by the Hospital Foundation of Washington County, Inc.
- Repairs/replacement of flooring and lighting – in the entry, chapel
- New Carpeting in the main entrance
- Renovated inpatient unit – new paint, lighting, wall bumpers, furniture and ceiling tiles
- Lobby, ED, Chapel renovations
Programming/Procedures
- Outpatient Behavioral Health Program (Senior Renewal Center)
- Wound Care and Pulmonary Rehab
- Also help the hospital financially
- Keeps patients local
- Emergency Services
- Changed the ED Management
- Improved services in ER
- Improved patient satisfaction
- Very successful, well-used, well-received in the community
- Great service to keep patients local
- Positive financial impact on the hospital
Procedures
- Barryx – treats Barrett’s esophagus (reflux and heartburn issues) – Used by Jeffrey Morgan, MD, gastroenterologist.
- Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation – used by Rizwan Khan, MD – Pain Management physician. Helps alleviate back pain by using radiofrequency waves to ablate nerve endings.
- TIF – Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication — This procedure reconstructs the anti-reflux valve and restores the body’s natural protection against reflux. This procedure is reserved for those with more advanced cases of GERD, especially those patients who are no longer responding well to drug treatments. This procedure is performed by Dr. Jon Noel, general surgeon.
- Lithotripsy – treatment used to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces so that they can be passed more easily. Used by Dr. Larry Strong, urologist.
New Physicians/NP’s
- Pediatrician, Barbara Sagoe, MD
- Family Medicine, Kristen Ingram, MD (at Pekin)
- Warren Balazs, OD – Ear, Nose and Throat
- GYN – Tiffany Hannigan, MD
- Two Nurse Practitioners – Melinda Clark, NP and Sarah Kuzma, NP
- In addition, the hospital shares physician resources with SV Dunn and SV Jennings hospitals
- The hospital has tried to be a more visible community partner for other organizations.
Financials
- The hospital is well ahead of target and in the black
- Definitely a month to month basis in this type of organization, but we have had an overall successful fiscal year.
- We always have to look at numbers and stay on top of the finances, constantly adjusting when necessary.
- Prior to, and through bankruptcy, then post-bankruptcy, the hospital’s financials have continually seen improvements
