B.E. Smith Seeks CEO for Swope Health Services
February 25, 2019 – As the healthcare industry continues its transformation, talent management remains a high priority. The shortage of physicians and other clinicians is one matter. But healthcare organizations must also fill new and expanding leadership roles to carry out strategic initiatives in response to reform efforts, and whatever changes are coming. This has produced a high demand for top-notch leaders in the sector – and executive recruiters who can land them.
B.E. Smith, a healthcare-focused executive search firm, has been selected to find the next chief executive officer for Swope Health Services in Kansas City, MO. Senior executive consultant River Meisinger is leading the assignment for the recruitment firm.
The CEO of this federally qualified health center is charged with working with senior leadership to develop and execute board-approved strategies, business initiatives and objectives focused on long-term advancement of the organization, said B.E. Smith. This leader also represents Swope Health Services while fostering positive relationships with potential partner organizations, the board of directors, local and regional communities, provider groups and other healthcare organizations.
The CEO drives wellness, accessibility and quality care while serving as a role model for accountability, transparency, creativity, efficiency and forward-thinking, said B.E. Smith. The individual also delivers cultural enhancements through increased training, visibility of all roles and a thorough understanding of the needs of Swope’s more than 40,000 patients.
Serving Patients
The ideal candidate will have prior experience leading a healthcare organization at the senior executive level, said the search firm.
Swope Health Services, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, provides primary healthcare, outreach and behavioral health services to 45,000 patients across western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. The organization recently received five quality awards granted by the Health Resources & Services Administration, as well as a three-year renewal as a Joint Commission accredited facility
Swope Health Services delivers care to patients from all walks of life, offering its services on a sliding pay scale to ensure accessible healthcare to the homeless, the uninsured and low income households.
Swope Mobile is a mobile medical clinic to assist those with inadequate transportation – patients can receive blood tests, urgent care, immunizations and pregnancy testing from a team of skilled health professionals.
Founded in 1978, Lenexa, KS-based B.E. Smith is a full-service healthcare interim leadership placement and executive search firm. For nearly a decade, it has been recognized annually by Modern Healthcare as one of the top search firms in its sector. The firm places interim leaders and executives across all healthcare settings, including acute care hospitals, academic medical and children’s hospitals, physician practices and post-acute care providers.
A Respected Recruiter
Mr. Meisinger, who joined B.E. Smith in 2017, works to develop and maintain relationships with passive talent from the director level and above in critical access hospitals, community, health system and academic medical centers across the country. He holds a bachelor’s degree with a focus on pre-medicine/ pre-medical studies from the University of Kansas. He is a healthcare MBA candidate at Simmons College.
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Last year, B.E. Smith was charged with finding a president and CEO for Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, SD, a search also led by Mr. Meisinger.
Following a nationwide CEO search, the healthcare group announced that Kenneth (K.C.) DeBoer had won the role. “We’re excited to have K.C. DeBoer join our Prairie Lakes Healthcare System team,” said Jim Redlinger, board chair. “K.C. will bring to Prairie Lakes a vast range of experiences, from his start in healthcare as a staff nurse to his CEO position in Jamestown, North Dakota. We will challenge K.C. to continue focused efforts on the patient care experience. With K.C. joining us we are positioned to continue to lead the region in quality healthcare.”
Mr. DeBoer joined Prairie Lakes Healthcare System with an extensive history of healthcare management. Known as a leader in rural healthcare, Mr. DeBoer has experience initiating new service lines, recruiting physicians, improving patient satisfaction scores, and achieving profitability goals.
Mr. DeBoer previously served as president and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, an independent critical access hospital that serves a nine county area with a population of 45,000.
“I am humbled and honored to join the team at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System and we are excited to move to Watertown,” said Mr. DeBoer. “Prairie Lakes has a strong tradition of caring for the community. As the community’s hospital our strength comes from our relationship with the community. We are a part of the fabric of Watertown and the region and I am committed to growing and fostering that partnership. I look forward to working with the outstanding medical staff in Watertown and the region and all the employees of Prairie Lakes to provide the best care possible to the patients we serve.”
The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, management and direction of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. The individual will focus on building collaborative relationships with physicians, board members and the community as a whole, said the search firm.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
