VGH Names Interim CEO

Board Names Interim While National Search Begins

Monroe, WA –Providing patients with safe, quality care in a healing environment is the mission of Valley General Hospital. This will continue to be the hospital’s focus while the search for a permanent CEO continues. Phil Sandifer, FACHE, of Kirkland has been named the interim CEO at Valley General until that time. Mr. Sandifer will start on July 15, 2009. Mark Judy, current CEO, will leave his position effective July 29, 2009.

“The Board of Commissioners was impressed by Mr. Sandifer and what he will bring to the hospital. “Mr. Sandifer has assisted many hospitals through interim periods with great success,” states Neil Watkins, Board of Commissioners Chair. Sandifer was CEO at Island Hospital in Anacortes from 1983 – 2000 and has since served interim appointments throughout Washington, California and Montana. His last interim assignment was in 2007-2008 at Lake Chelan Community Hospital.

Sandifer has strengths in strategic positioning, physician relations, leadership and governance. Watkins adds, “He excels in all of the areas that we need to continue to strengthen and maintain.” Sandifer is a Co-Principal at The Lakes Group, LLC, a healthcare consulting firm in Kirkland. Mr. Sandifer will continue as interim until a permanent CEO is hired.

The hospital has engaged a national health care CEO search firm, Witt/Kieffer, to conduct the national search for the permanent CEO replacement. “The Board felt that this is a critical juncture in the life of the hospital, and it will take a very special person to carry it through to the next level,” states Neil Watkins. Witt/Kieffer was one of several search firms that submitted a proposal for the job. “They had outstanding recommendations and have a solid reputation in the health care CEO recruitment field. We believe they will bring us the right candidate,” says Watkins.