Nicky Boyette – Vicki Andert, Chief of Nursing at Eureka Springs Hospital, announced at the Monday Hospital Commission meeting that Chris Bariola, CEO of ESH, had submitted his resignation effective Friday, April 8. Andert said the search for his replacement is ongoing, and in the meantime, “we’ll continue to do what we do.”
Bariola, who has also been CEO of another Allegiance facility in Dardanelle, was in Dardanelle handling a state level audit of that facility at the time of the meeting. He said in a telephone conversation it was a difficult decision to leave ESH because he loved Eureka Springs and thought the staff were doing a terrific job. He said he was pleased with new services, such as the clinic with Dr. Christopher Baranyk, and mentioned he was disappointed there had not been more progress toward the new hospital.
Nevertheless, he said he will not miss the back and forth travel involved with the two positions, and is moving to a similar position at Baptists Memorial Hospital in Germantown, TN just south of Memphis, which is nearer his family.
Bariola began his tenure at ESH in the summer of 2012.
Clinic is busy
ESH community liaison Catherine Pappas told commissioners the ESH clinic at the Eastgate Center, which opened in October 2015, already has 350 patients, some from as far away as Harrison. Dr. Baranyk had 23 patients scheduled Monday. Pappas mentioned one goal of the clinic is to become a part of the community, and, as an example, Baranyk has agreed to go to Eureka Springs High School to perform free wellness tests for athletes in August.
Banking
In other business, commissioners discussed what they should do with $2,025,000 in hospital accounts. Chair Michael Merry said their attorney strongly suggested they not spend any funds, but hang onto it and invest it wisely. The commission receives $180,000 annually from Allegiance, the company that leases operation of ESH, and about the same amount from Louisiana Health Care, a home care provider.
Merry said it would be the responsibility of the commission to step in if Allegiance decided to walk away. He did not expect this, since Allegiance is making a profit and expanding services, but the commission must be able to handle payroll and operational expenses until a new contractor could step in.
Andert said the lease with Allegiance automatically renews for another five years October 17.
Commissioners suggested various strategies for effectively investing funds using local banks and Certificates of Deposit of varying terms and rates. Merry said he and commissioner Bob Walling are scheduled to visit with a local bank to see what rates are available.
Commissioners eventually voted to recommit $1.4 million to a five-year CD at one bank and discuss rolling over almost $400,000 at another bank if the rate were satisfactory.
Next meeting will be Monday, June 20, at 1 p.m., at ECHO Clinic.