Hunter Ambrose Seeks CEO for Eastern Plumas Health Care
October 26, 2018 – Hunter Ambrose Recruitment and Executive Search has launched a search for the next chief executive officer for Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC), a non-profit critical access hospital district in Portola, CA. Tom Hayes, who served in the top role for nine years, announced his retirement last month. Jayne O’Flanagan, interim human resources director, is leading daily operations until the new CEO comes on board.
EPHC’s next CEO will be charged with developing operating plans, structures and systems to fulfill the vision of Eastern Plumas Health Care; consistently ensuring excellent service, responsible financial stewardship, agency effectiveness and regulatory compliance; and promoting the organization’s core values and fostering staff and board development.
Qualified candidates should be successful leaders of facilities and medical entities, said Hunter Ambrose. The new leader will be expected to nurture donor relationships, advance fund-raising strategies and oversee staffing the implementation of fund-raising plans.
Seeking a Leader
EPHC seeks candidates who can perform and lead the organization from a position of financial growth, stewardship and ability to create and implement responsible financial decisions to ensure the solvency of the organization, said Hunter Ambrose. They should also be capable of conceiving new and inventive methods to compete in the crowded marketplace; create a compelling vision for the organization’s initiatives and establish a sense loyalty within the organization; and involve both key players and subordinates in planning work processes to allow the best ideas become policy, regardless of their origination.
The new leader must also: communicate organizational priorities in new and effective ways, and seek out best practices in all areas of the organization; lead the organization forward in an increasingly competitive environment; and foster the establishment of scalable and sustainable infrastructures and processes to ensure that every patient and family has a high quality, predictable experience, among other duties, said Hunter Ambrose.
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Master’s prepared candidates are preferred for the role, the search firm said. Prospects should have more than 10 years of healthcare leadership experience, a passion for rural healthcare and COO-CEO experience at an acute care hospital, the search firm said. They should also have a track record of recruiting and retaining high-performing medical staff, experience navigating rural healthcare needs at the state and federal level, a proven leadership style that is transparent and principle centered, and astute finance experience managing and growing healthcare organizations exceeding $25 million.
A Rural Hospital
Hunter Ambrose, based in Reno, NV, is looking to present about 10 initial candidates for the role. The board will then interview candidates on Skype, selecting three to come to Portola, in central California, for interviews.
EPHC, which emphasizes access to care for all, has been providing comprehensive medical services to Plumas County since 1971. The system provides patients access to a nine-bed acute care hospital, a 24-hour, physician-staffed emergency room and ambulance service, four primary care medical clinics and two dental clinics, and a range of other services. Its patient revenues are in the vicinity of $37.5 million.
Founded in 2006, Hunter Ambrose is a privately held retained search firm specializing in healthcare, legal, executive and consulting recruitment services. The firm also provides RPO services through the TAP (targeted acquisition of professionals) program as well as career coaching services for executives, providers and veterans in healthcare.
Experienced Recruiters
The firm has placed over 5,000 candidates at hospitals in 40 states since its inception, in addition to placements in the legal, scientific and consulting sectors. Its areas of recruitment expertise include: critical access hospitals, independent physician associations and executive search. The firm also has consultant offices in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Its vice president, Andrea Usher, who will be involved in the search, has been with the firm for two years. Previously, she was administrative manager/president for Trusted Property Services in San Diego. She has also served as operations manager for Exemplar Enterprises, TTCC Inc., Bona Fide Conglomerate Inc. in El Cajon, CA, among other roles.
Nicole Barbano, Hunter Ambrose’s founder and CEO, was previously director for Access Nurses in San Diego. Before that, she was a national account executive for Kforce, director of Search Tech Medical and nurse recruiter for Children’s Hospital Central California.
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
