Immediately after the abrupt resignation of Massena (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital CEO Robert Wolleben on June 18, town officials announced they plan to contract with another hospital to operate Massena Memorial as an interim step to forming a private nonprofit and having a health system take over the facility completely, according to the Watertown Daily Times.
Mr. Wolleben told town officials he was stepping down as hospital CEO on the afternoon of June 18, and by the end of a regularly scheduled board meeting that evening, the hospital hired Ann Gilpin as the facility's interim leader. She previously served as president and CEO of Oswego (N.Y.) Health System.
Massena Town Supervisor Steven D. O'Shaughnessy told the Watertown Daily Times Ms. Gilpin will serve as interim CEO for two months.
"In the meantime, we're going to be seeking a management contract with another hospital to push us to privatization and possible affiliation," Mr. O'Shaughnessy said. "We want to make it a priority. We wanted it to be way before now. The management team will run the hospital and get it privatized and get it affiliated."
The process of transitioning Massena Memorial from a municipal hospital to a private facility began a few years ago. In 2016, officials contacted 17 health systems to determine if they were interested in affiliating with Massena Memorial once the hospital privatizes. Hospital officials received six responses, five of which met the hospital's requirements for affiliation. Of those, two were chosen for further discussions, according to the report.
The hospital will choose an affiliate once the asset transfer agreement between the town and the hospital is complete. The agreement determines which assets and liabilities carry over to the new organization, according to the report.
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