Kim Keene, interim CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, La., will assume the post permanently Nov. 5, according to a New Orleans City Business report.
Ms. Keene, assistant vice president of clinical operations for Slidell, La.-based Ochsner Medical Center-North Shore, served as interim leader of the hospital since New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System took over short-term management of the troubled facility in fall 2016.
Ochsner entered into a long-term lease deal with St. Bernard Parish Hospital in January. The hospital faced financial issues since it opened in 2012. In the first 11 months of 2016, it recorded an operating loss of nearly $7.2 million. Per the lease deal, Ochsner planned to help the hospital with its turnaround efforts.
Ochsner signed an extended agreement allowing the health system to continue management of the hospital. The new agreement will be fully implemented by Nov. 5.