As a young man, Robert Steigmeyer never expected to run a hospital. The son of a pediatrician and an undergraduate biology major, he expected to go to medical school like several of his siblings. Instead, he became fascinated by the operation of healthcare systems. After spending a year in England, conducting undergraduate research on healthcare, he decided to take a different route: an MBA and an MHA from St. Louis University.
Mr. Steigmeyer's enthusiasm for healthcare administration has paid off. He was named the new CEO of Community Medical Center in Scranton, Penn., at the end of June. Prior to joining Community Medical Center, he served as senior vice president of operations and finance for the 300-bed Northwest Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. He also worked as a healthcare consultant at Ernst & Young in St. Louis and as an interim hospital executive around the country for ECG Management Consultants in Seattle.
In an interview with The Citizen's Voice, Mr. Steigmeyer acknowledged the challenges he will face with Community Medical Center. The hospital has gone through two failed merger attempts and two years of financial losses in the past four years. Mr. Steigmeyer said that despite the hospital's financial difficulties, he will not Save focus all his energy on finding a partner for a merger.
"Reacting to the offer du jour is not effective," he said. "We have to determine first what we need to do as an organization and chart its future. If the future includes a merger, then we figure out what it will look like, then find the right partner."
The Community Medical Center board of directors was enthusiastic about their choice of Mr. Steigmeyer to run the hospital. In an interview with The Times-Tribune, board chair Jeff Jacobson said, "We believe CMC is at the forefront in delivery of healthcare and under Mr. Steigmeyer’s leadership and direction, we look ahead to continued outstanding quality outcomes and access to care for our community. His healthcare consulting and hospital management experience has prepared him well."
Read the Citizen's Voice report on the appointment of Robert Steigmeyer.
Read more Becker's coverage of Community Medical Center.
Pennsylvania's Geisinger Ends Merger Talks with Scranton Hospital
Geisinger Exploring Partnership With Pennsylvania Hospital
Mr. Steigmeyer's enthusiasm for healthcare administration has paid off. He was named the new CEO of Community Medical Center in Scranton, Penn., at the end of June. Prior to joining Community Medical Center, he served as senior vice president of operations and finance for the 300-bed Northwest Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. He also worked as a healthcare consultant at Ernst & Young in St. Louis and as an interim hospital executive around the country for ECG Management Consultants in Seattle.
In an interview with The Citizen's Voice, Mr. Steigmeyer acknowledged the challenges he will face with Community Medical Center. The hospital has gone through two failed merger attempts and two years of financial losses in the past four years. Mr. Steigmeyer said that despite the hospital's financial difficulties, he will not Save focus all his energy on finding a partner for a merger.
"Reacting to the offer du jour is not effective," he said. "We have to determine first what we need to do as an organization and chart its future. If the future includes a merger, then we figure out what it will look like, then find the right partner."
The Community Medical Center board of directors was enthusiastic about their choice of Mr. Steigmeyer to run the hospital. In an interview with The Times-Tribune, board chair Jeff Jacobson said, "We believe CMC is at the forefront in delivery of healthcare and under Mr. Steigmeyer’s leadership and direction, we look ahead to continued outstanding quality outcomes and access to care for our community. His healthcare consulting and hospital management experience has prepared him well."
Read the Citizen's Voice report on the appointment of Robert Steigmeyer.
Read more Becker's coverage of Community Medical Center.
Pennsylvania's Geisinger Ends Merger Talks with Scranton Hospital
Geisinger Exploring Partnership With Pennsylvania Hospital