New Hospital CEO Could Be Named Soon

Kimball Health Services CEO Ken Hunter told the Kimball County Commissioners on Tuesday that he anticipates an announcement for his replacement to happen in the next couple of weeks.

Kimball Health Services representatives attended the commissioners meeting to give an update on the building and to discuss any action concerning the future of the existing county hospital building.

Hunter gave an overview of hospital financials. He said two challenges are occurring, with one being the continuing inflation and the other the continuing pressure from Medicare and Medicaid. He said they lose money on every Medicaid patient and also lose money on many Medicare patients.

In addition, the financials are complex in Kimball because 20% of the population has no insurance at all. So Kimball Health Services is trying to cut costs and hoping to save money by cutting one doctor.

Hunter said that there is a nationwide crisis in healthcare. He said that while Kimball Health Services is keeping its head above water, it is not exempt to the challenges.

“Business keeps increasing, but expenses have gone up more than we thought,” he said.

Hunter continued to explain that Kimball has done well, but healthcare has not done well.

One additional expense is the nine traveling nurses or lab techs that Kimball Health Services must employ.

The new building will have a higher census, and everything will be more streamlined, he said.

The anticipated move to the new hospital is mid- to late January. Interior and concrete work is in the later stages. The helicopter pad will be placed soon.

KHS is in the process of developing a timeline for the public in relation to the opening and operation of the new facility.