November 22, 2007

Interim hospital administrator hired

By Stephen McFadden

Publisher

Barry Kenfield will serve as the interim administrator for the Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2. District Commissioners unanimously approved an interim contract with Kenfield on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Kenfield will replace Larry Hutcheson, who ends more than 16 years of service with the district on Nov. 23.

Hutcheson has accepted the position of chief financial officer at Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nev. He is joining Jim Parrish, ACPHD No. 2’s previous administrator. Parrish currently serves as chief operating officer and administrator of the Nevada hospital.

For 36 years Kenfield worked for Community Medical Center in Missoula, Mont. From 1970 to 1977 he served as controller. In March of 1977 he was elevated to the role of director of finance and chief financial officer. In 1999 he was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Kenfield graduated from the University of Montana in 1970 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in business administration, accounting.

In July of 2007 Kenfield notified QHR – Quorum Health Resources – that he was interested in pursuing a career as an interim CFO, COO or CEO. Last month the local hospital district hired QHR to find an interim administrator.

According to Hutcheson, QHR reviewed Kenfield’s credentials and recommended him as a viable candidate for the interim role.

The initial term of the agreement with Kenfield is two months. The agreement allows the contract to be extended twice, for a one-month period each time.

Kenfield will start work with the district on Monday, Nov. 26. He was originally scheduled to begin working on Monday, Nov. 19, but was unable to make it due to a winter storm in Montana.

The compensation package for the interim administrator includes $10,833 per month as salary. The salary will be paid in advance of service, something Hutcheson said on Monday was not a common practice.

Kenfield will be eligible for one week of paid vacation should the contract be extended beyond the initial two-month period.

The commissioners also agreed to provide lodging and reimburse Kenfield for his travel expenses to and from Montana.