New PMC CEO Ken Harman will join hospital on Oct. 4
MEEKER I Almost eight months after Bob Omer resigned as CEO at Pioneers Medical Center, a permanent replacement has been announced.
Ken Harman, who most recently has been CEO with Cassia Regional Center in Burley, Idaho, was appointed PMC’s new CEO by the hospital’s board of trustees. He will assume his new duties Oct. 4.
Omer’s resignation “to pursue other opportunities” was announced in January.
Tom Allen, president of the PMC Board of Directors, said in a statement released Sept. 10, “Harman brings a wealth of hospital experience to this position, and is committed to making physician, patient and employee satisfaction a high priority. Quorum Health Resources conducted a national search for this position, and worked closely with us to identify the right candidate for our hospital and community. The board of directors, medical staff, employees and members of the community who met Ken agreed that he is a good fit for the community and is like-minded with his commitment to the physicians, the hospital staff, and the community.”
Harman has more than 20 years of healthcare experience. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and his master’s of health care administration at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Albert Krueger, chief of the medical staff, said, “The medical staff is impressed with Ken’s commitment to patient safety and quality. We look forward to working with him and continuing to move the hospital in a positive direction.”
Harman and his wife, Leslie, and four of their six children will move to the Meeker area. The older two children have graduated from high school. Harman was raised in rural Salt Lake County and he and his wife enjoy raising their children in a rural environment and are excited with all of the outdoor recreational opportunities the area offers.
“I am excited to be given the opportunity to come and work at Pioneers Medical Center,” Harman said. “Pioneers has a long history of providing compassionate patient care to the residents of Meeker and Rio Blanco County. I am excited to be able to help improve upon that wonderful foundation. My passion in healthcare is in working with physicians, nurses and other clinicians to improve care and to move toward best practice medicine.”
Ken Huey has been serving as the interim CEO at Pioneers.
“We are grateful for his devoted leadership during this transition,” said board president Allen.