In his new role as chief executive officer of Stevens Hospital, Michael Carter will juggle the roles of coach, team player, cheerleader and whatever else is necessary to achieve a winning record.
Today, July 14, marks the end of Carter’s first week on the job at Stevens, the publicly funded hospital in Edmonds that’s trying to end years of dismal financial performance. The first day, he reported, was spent in meetings and familiarizing himself with the issues (“… and there are a few …”) involving the 156-bed hospital that’s the cornerstone of Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 2.
Several employees and volunteers queried about first impressions of the new CEO said they have yet to meet him. But several agreed the fact he goes by the less-formal name “Mike” is a hopeful sign.
Carter’s appointment was announced at the June meeting of the five-member hospital district board. His confirmation is expected at the July 26 board meeting.
He was the “clear favorite” of the three finalists interviewed by the board, administration and physicians, noted Dr. Tim Roddy, chief of the medical staff.
A contract still in the works calls for Carter to make an annual base salary of $342,500 with incentives of up to $102,750 and another $95,000 in benefits, according to hospital spokeswoman Beth Engel. A further breakdown of those figures, she added, is not yet available.
Carter, 53, assumes the executive role from Dr. John Todd, who served as interim CEO for two years. Todd will remain on board full time at his present annual salary of $300,000 for three months or as long as it takes to complete the transition, according to Engel.
Carter was administrator of Kindred Hospital Northwest in Phoenix before coming to the Pacific Northwest. He said he expects to put down roots in the Edmonds area with his wife and two daughters.
Carter arrived as the consulting firm of Wellspring Partners ended its two-year, $7.1 million contract with the district. Wellspring initiated hard decisions, such as the elimination of 90 jobs, to improve Stevens’ bottom line, but the cuts weren’t enough to completely counteract financial fallout from what hospital officials called an unexpected downturn in recent patient populations.
During the first few months of the year Stevens continued to lose money, although a profit of $1.2 million by year’s end still is expected, Engel said.
Roddy said he has high hopes for Carter. Other physicians have a “wait-and-see attitude,” which is understandable given the “taste in their mouths from Wellspring …,” he continued. “They (Wellspring) had to make some tough choices.”
“I will listen and communicate and do what I say when I say I’m going to do it,” Carter said when asked how he will win over physicians who have a choice of where to admit their patients. “It’s one doctor at a time, one day at a time.”
Carter said the biggest mistake he can make in his new job is to spend money on the wrong projects. “Large projects that are the wrong projects are bad.”
It all comes down to a stable bottom line, Carter said. “When you struggle financially, you don’t have the resources to do something when something good comes along.”
Roddy said he thinks Carter is up for challenge. “He exudes the leadership style Stevens needs right now.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
