Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Johnston Health narrows search

Johnston Health is narrowing the field in its search for a new chief executive. The hospital system and its management company, Quorum Health Resources, plan to interview three or four final candidates in coming weeks, the hospital said last week.

The system, which includes hospitals in Smithfield and Clayton, fired former CEO Kevin Rogols last fall, saying it wanted a fresh perspective and had lost some confidence in his ability to lead through the years ahead.

After the firing, Quorum gathered about 100 applications, then presented nine candidates to Johnston Health's Board of Commissioners. Of those nine, the board will interview three or four people and select its new CEO.

As of last Friday, two of the interviews had been scheduled-- one candidate was a man, and the other a woman, said Jim Perpich, director of marketing for the hospital.

The hospital has not released names or other information about the candidates, citing concern for their current jobs.

The other remaining applicants have experience as CEOs at hospitals as large or larger than Johnston Health, Perpich said.

Perpich said the new executive could be announced in late March.