KVCH names new CEO after national search

Paul Nurick was named to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Kittitas Valley Community Hospital Thursday by the KVCH board of commissioners. Nurick will also serve as superintendent of Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 1, which operates KVCH, its clinics and other offsite services.

In accordance with public hospital district law, a resolution appointing Nurick was introduced on Thursday and a final vote will be taken at the next regular board meeting in May. Nurick’s starting date is still being negotiated, but is expected to be in mid July.

“This has been a very thorough nationwide search,” said Jack Baker, president of KVCH’s board of commissioners. “We know that recruitment and retention of physicians are top priorities within our community. Paul has had extensive experience and success in both recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. We are very pleased that he will be joining our KVCH team.” Baker added that Nurick’s successful implementation of quality improvement initiatives was also very important in his selection.

Nurick currently resides in Wilton, Conn. He has nearly 30 years experience in large and small healthcare organizations in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

“It is a privilege to join the KVCH family,” said Nurick. “This is an excellent hospital; and it will be exciting to work together with physicians, the board, and hospital employees, who are committed to exceeding our patients’ and their families’ expectations for clinical quality and service excellence.” Nurick added that he has been struck by the spectacular beauty of the Kittitas Valley and its unique cultural amenities. “My wife Jane and I are eager to complete our move and look forward to being active members of this community.”

During his career Nurick has overseen physician group practices, has a strong record of information technology implementation, and thorough knowledge of healthcare finance. His accomplishments include the creation of a support service for community-based private physician practices, resulting in the recruitment of 25 new doctors. He played a key role in the planning and implementation of the nationally recognized cardiac and trauma programs at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania and in turning a $13 million deficit at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut into consistently positive operating margins. He has also led the planning and design of new outreach programs and services to community residents in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southwestern Connecticut.

Board member Joan Baird Glover served as chair of the search committee. “It was clear by the feedback we received from physicians, KVCH employees, and community members who met Paul when he first visited us in March that he was the top candidate,” Glover said. “These are extremely challenging times for hospitals and healthcare, especially in rural areas. The board is confident that Paul is among the most knowledgeable and talented individuals that we could have found.” According to Glover, more than 100 candidates submitted resumes for the position.

Nurick will replace Eric Jensen who served as CEO for almost 13 years before he was hired by a hospital in Seattle. Since October, Michael Fraser has acted as interim CEO of KVCH. “Our goal is to have a seamless transition,” said Fraser. “Paul is already meeting with administrative team members, medical staff and the board. Because of his extensive background in hospitals, health systems and clinic management, he has quickly developed an understanding of the issues that confront KVCH in today’s economic environment. ”

Dr. Robert Johnson, chief of the KVCH medical staff said, “Paul seems to bring an exciting and fresh perspective on the very complex relationship between the medical staff and the hospital district’s administration. I feel very confident that the hospital board has made an excellent choice in our new chief executive officer.”

Nurick and his wife Jane grew up in a small town in upstate New York and have two adult sons. Jane Nurick is a librarian.

Nurick earned an MBA in Health Systems Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and his undergraduate degree was from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He has served on the staff of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management and has been a faculty preceptor for Graduate students in the Health Finance and Management Program of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, as well as serving as Residency Director for graduates of the Yale School of Public Health.