Telluride Medical Center: Searching for New CEO

25 Mar Telluride Medical Center: Searching for New CEO

Of 600 candidates to apply, 22 candidates met the criteria for the position of Telluride Medical Center CEO to succeed Gordon Reichard who, after nine years at the helm, announced his retirement last month.

Gordon Reichard, retiring Executive Director, Telluride Medical Center

The application deadline was March 16. Among those suitable candidates, 10 were from Colorado and 12 others applied from 10 other states. A national search firm, Baker Tilly, conducted the search.

To date, a search committee – comprised of TMC doctors, two hospital district board members, plus Lynn Borup and Andrew Karow representing the community – has conducted six interviews. Two finalists were posted this week in TMC’s lobby including John Gardner, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and CEO from Yuma Colorado District Hospital and Clinic and another applicant who has since withdrawn.

On March 18, a small group was invited to hear a Gardner give a presentation at the Wilkinson Public Library on Critical Access Hospitals, a designation the Telluride Hospital District intends to secure with the building of their new facility.

“This was a good opportunity for us to learn more about the new candidate and his ability to communicate with both medical insiders and the community at large,” said Larry Mallard, Board Chairman of the Telluride Hospital District.

The new CEO of the TMC will inherit an organization that is at or above patient capacity most months and is in the process of seeking a Wetlands Permit and Mitigation Application from the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a new facility in Mountain Village. In the most recent correspondence from the Army Corps, the Hospital District was asked to consider a new site at Society Turn.

Reichard intends to work with the new CEO throughout the leadership transition of the region’s only primary and emergency health care provider.

“Our ideal candidate would have Critical Access Hospital experience and expertise in strategic planning to guide the building and funding of our new facility. Commitment to providing the community with high quality health care is a must,” said Dr. Carol Kammer, chairperson of the search committee.

The Telluride Hospital District, which is the governing body of TMC, projects to select the finalist by April.  The committee is continuing to review additional candidates and may still chose to bring in others.

“We hope to announce the new CEO in April,” said Kammer.