Ward to lead NW Specialty Hospital
POST FALLS - Three months off the campaign trail, Vaughn Ward is bringing his leadership skills to Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls.
Ward, defeated in the May primary by Raul Labrador for the GOP nomination for Idaho's 1st District congressional seat, has been named the new CEO of the physician-owned, 7-year-old hospital that has about 140 total employees.
Ward, who starts Sept. 27, will replace Ron Rock, who is retiring as CEO after three years but will remain on staff as an anesthetist.
Rock said the decision to step down was his own.
"I was very explicit that when I took the position it would be interim CEO," he said. "Initially, I said I'd stay six months during the search process so I've stayed on much longer than I anticipated."
Rock said he wants to ease his workload to spend more time traveling and with his grandchildren.
Ward, who will be the hospital's fourth CEO in the past five years, was recommended to the board by Rock out of more than 30 candidates.
"Health care is so important to our nation and we're in dire straits with the way we're approaching it," Ward said of a reason he was interested in the job. "I like the for-profit model Northwest Specialty Hospital utilizes."
Ward said it's also a chance to use his public and management skills.
Ward, 41, will remain a major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as CEO. He, along with wife Kirsten and their children Ave', 5, and William, 2, are in the process of moving to North Idaho from Eagle near Boise.
Ward, who fought in Iraq, is a former operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency and was on Dirk Kempthorne's staff in Washington in the early 1990s. He was also a former John McCain aide and has a master's degree in finance from the University of Maryland.
Rock, who supported Ward's campaign for Congress, said Ward's political experience and leadership, finance and critical thinking skills made him the best candidate.
"I really admire his character and his service to our country," Rock said.
Ward's limited medical experience includes CEO training in 2007 at Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based Select Medical Corporation, which has 112 long-term acute care hospitals in 28 states.
Northwest Specialty Hospital is affiliated with Chicago-based National Surgical Hospitals, which was part of the CEO selection process. Northwest Specialty's board unanimously approved Ward as CEO.
Northwest has four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, 12 private patient rooms, a full recovery room and cafeteria. Surgeries at the hospital include, but are not limited to: ear, nose and throat; bariatrics; podiatry; orthopedics; pain management; neurosurgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery; general; and gynecology.
Ward said the campaign trail allowed him to make connections throughout the state that helped lead to the opportunity in North Idaho.
"This is a wonderful outdoor retreat for so many people and it's a lot like Bozeman (Mont.) where my wife is from," he said. "It's exciting to take the next step in our lives and have a chance to live in North Idaho."