AK: Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO Resigns

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO Christine Harff offered her resignation during an executive session with the hospital’s Board of Directors Tuesday evening, the hospital announced Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement that “Harff expressed deep admiration and respect for the hospital employees and medical staff, but feels her professional expertise and the needs of the Juneau community are not a good fit.”

Harff’s resignation comes after just over one year on the job, her first day was on Aug. 15, 2012. Her last day at the hospital is expected to be Oct. 18.

In a statement to hospital employees, Barlett Regional Hospital board President Linda Thomas said that the board is disappointed, but hopes to build upon and continue the work accomplished by Harff during her tenure as CEO.

The board plans to announce an interim CEO within the next month, before searching for a long-term replacement for Harff.

Here is the email sent out to employees of the hospital:

“Good afternoon Bartlett Employees,

I want to share with you that tendered my resignation to the hospital’s Board of Director’s Tuesday evening during an extended executive session of the regular Board meeting.

I would like to express my deep admiration and respect for the hospital employees and medical staff, but feel my professional expertise and the needs of the Juneau community are not a good fit.

The Board of Directors is already developing transition plans to ensure the operation and success of Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Our Board President, Linda Thomas asked me to pass this along to all of the Bartlett family:

“Of course we are disappointed that Juneau’s community hospital was not a good fit for Ms. Harff.   However; during her tenure, she was able to improve our patient quality and satisfaction scores, lead us through high impact regulatory compliance audits, and create a more healthy financial position for the hospital.

This has been a very challenging year, but Ms. Harff and the Board have now set the stage for the next CEO to focus even more on our hospital mission of quality, patient centered care.

The Board will name an Interim CEO within the next month and will also actively be looking for a longer term replacement for the CEO position.”

My last day at Bartlett is anticipated to be October 18^th.”