Thursday, January 25th, 2007

Hunt for Mercer Health CEO moves slowly and steadily forward

By Shelley Grieshop
COLDWATER - The search for a new CEO for Mercer Health is ongoing, although board members appear in no hurry to fill the position.
Dave Wolters, president of Mercer Health Board of Governors, said several applications have been received so far and the process of gathering them will continue. Board members have not set a deadline to hire a new CEO following the firing of Terry Padden at a special board meeting in late November.
Board members currently are handling the application process internally and have not said if they plan to hire a company to conduct the search.
Board members and Padden apparently did not see eye to eye on future plans for the hospital, although they praised his leadership of the organization during his nearly three years at the helm.
Padden, who resides in Rockford, continues to receive his contracted annual salary of about $130,000 through August, as well as group life, health and major medical coverage, according to an agreement approved by board members following his dismissal.
Board members also discussed the Maternal Care Center program in Celina, which serves at-risk pregnant women and Medicaid patients in the area.
Lisa Klenke, vice president of patient care services, said Nurse/Midwife Donna Scheideberg has been appointed primary caregiver for the program. Klenke said recent discussion about the center is focused on what kind of care to provide patients served at the Celina office.
Currently, the program provides some direct care and serves as a resource link to other agencies in the coun '90s under Manager Connie Paulus with the aid of a state grant. Last year, the grant amount totaled about $37,000, Klenke said.
Board members also heard an update on the recruitment of specialists for the hospital's medical staff. Wermert said the hospital is considering joining forces with another area hospital to search for and pay the salary of a needed ears, nose and throat doctor. Wermert did not say which area hospital might be included in the venture.
The search also continues for a pediatrician and a family physician. Three-year contracts with anesthesiologists Keith Snow and Venkat Neelati recently were approved by board members.
In other business, board members:
• Learned December was an extremely busy and profitable month due to an increase in flu cases and surgeries. A profit of $371,578 was recorded.
• Heard from Dr. Ed Hosbach, chief of staff of the medical executive committee, about goals the medical staff has outlined for the current year. Better communication with staff, particularly nurses, was high on the list. Also being reviewed are credentials, privilege and physical performance policies, and a measured care policy for physicians.
• Held an executive session with a hospital attorney present to discuss a pending legal issue, but took no action.
Additional online stories on this date
The state will not appeal a court decision in favor of five Mercer County farmers who sued the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) over farmland flooding caused by the West Bank spillway. [More]
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?"
Answer: "The Shadow knows."
The joyless laughter that followed on this 1930s radio program bespoke certain doom for some sinister scofflaw. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
NEW BREMEN - Peer pressure, stress and divorce - these are all issues that can affect how a student performs in school.
But how does a teen know if
Self-mutilation or "cutting" is becoming a problem locally, a school guidance counselor says.
Julie Lee, elementary/junior high guidance counselor at New Bremen, said there are teenagers at area schools who are deliberately cutting themselves.
Celina city officials still plan to buy the Heffner building to house the city's electric utility equipment, but have ordered a phase two environmental study before they hand over the money.
There are no plans locally to drop the "mental retardation" label from the Mercer County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) title, as a handful of Ohio counties have done.
COLDWATER - Mercer Health and Grand Lake Health System are joining forces to offer a variety of health-related services to area communities.
The ne
A Celina man, who tearfully admitted he made poor choices by drinking, taking drugs and then driving a sport utility vehicle toward a law enforcement officer, is headed to prison following a Wednesday morning appearance in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
Other awards handed out to Auglaize County sheriff's staff
A St. Marys man was voted deputy of the year recently at the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office.
Scott Evans, a law enforcement officer for 24 years, took the top deputy honor as multiple awards were presented to personnel at the sheriff's office.
St. Marys has had the upper hand on Van Wert for the last two seasons
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
One would have to imagine that Van Wert coach Dave Froelich is more than a little leery about going to McBroom Gymnasium on Friday night to face the St. Marys Roughriders.
6:30 p.m. Friday - The Palace
Tip-Off: The indoor version of the Backyard Battle has two teams that have turned around from some rough starts.
St. Henry raised its win streak to five straight with wins over Fort Recovery and National Trail last weekend.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Fort Site Fieldhouse
Tip-Off: The Flyers went 1-1 on the weekend with a big win over Parkway followed by a rough loss against Anna.
The Indians went from cold to hot ov
6:30 p.m. Friday - Panther Gymnasium
Tip-Off: The Blue Jays will look to snap a five-game losing streak after being beat by 20 points by New Bremen at Arnzen Gym on Friday night.
The P
6:30 p.m. Friday - Tiger Gymnasium
Tip-off: The Cardinals have lost three out of four games since jumping out to a 7-2 start. An overwhelming win at St. John's on Friday was matched up with a rough loss to Covington on Saturday.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Wildcat Gymnasium
Tip-Off: The Rangers continue to roll through the season, improving to 12-0 with wins over Coldwater and Botkins last weekend. New Knoxville remains in second place in The Associated Press state poll behind Russia.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Celina Fieldhouse
Tip-Off: The visiting Bulldogs come in looking for some momentum after losing their last eight games, including two games scoring under 20 points. The visit marks the Celina debut of Denny Thompson as varsity coach at Elida.