Article published Mar 4, 2009 Kessler names new CEO as fight to stay open continues By BEN MERITT Staff Writer
HAMMONTON -- Will-iam B. Kessler Hospital has a new chief executive officer.
Michael Sandnes, who served as director of health care practice for the Philadelphia-based Executive Sounding Board Associates, was appointed to the post Tuesday. He replaces Jim Rossi, who held the job on an interim basis since October but recently resigned.
Sandnes has more than 20 years of experience managing and structuring hospital operations as both an executive and management consultant, according to a statement issued by Kessler on Tuesday afternoon.
"We are confident that Mr. Sandnes will be able to achieve our goals of improving profitability of our services while advancing our ability to serve our community's comprehensive health care needs," said Ron Sahli, president of the hospital's board of directors. "Kessler Memorial is undergoing financial restructuring and, with Mr. Sandnes' leadership, we anticipate being positioned to take further important steps in the near future to ensure our future in the community."
Sandnes was in a meeting Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
The change comes just days after Rossi painted a bleak picture for the cash-strapped hospital's survival.
Though he said he remained optimistic, Rossi said last week Kessler needed to "make substantial progress" on a deal with a potential suitor quickly or else "harsh decisions" would have to be made.
Kessler, which opened in 1964, emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2007. It was expected to lose about $4 million last year, Rossi said previously.
The addition of Sandnes to the hospital's management team is part of an overall plan to solidify the hospital's finances, Sahli said.
Additional aspects of the plan will be announced in the near future, Sahli said.
Mayor John DiDonato said he hoped the hospital's new plan will be succeed.
"I know they are working on the final components of a plan and this may be part of it," he said. "We're down to the wire. Hopefully every day that the hospital stays open is another day closer to making a future transition."
Sahli extended his thanks to Rossi.
"Jim has given a tremendous amount of his time, energy and talent to this institution and to the community, and we greatly appreciate his service," Sahli said.
A message left for Rossi was not returned by press time Tuesday.
Each time we get a glimmer of hope, something happens to shoot our hopes down. Here we go again, a new CEO to "turn this thing around". As always, we hope for the good of the town and it's residents, that this time we find a solution.
Corzine and his Democrat cronies have done absolutely nothing to help Kessler Hospital. Corzine can't even find South Jesey without a map. The Democrats are useless. We need a change in Trenton. Chris Christie will lead the Republican charge to take back our state. Join the Republican Club. New leadership from Mike Torrissi. From Curcio to Christie, the Republcans have the team.
Right the Repubs. will save the day and the hospital. If I am not mistaken, all of the Board and Foundation members are local Repubs. or 1sters. Always have been.
What the heck do the local politicans have to do with hospital? I wish the state government would stay out of the subsidy business period. Most Hammontonians earn their own money by working and running small businesses and farms. We watch our tax money get sent to Trenton and wasted every year.
It is very disheartening to see alot of state tax money get poured into the North Jersey hospitals in Corzine's backyard while we get ignored again and again. Kudos to the people holding Jon Corzine's feet to the fire trying to get Kessler Hospital some much needed state aid but I would not hold my breath.
The $600,000,000 dollars he stole while working at GOLDMAN SACHS filling his pockets could probably fix all the hospitals in the state of NJ. This financial wiz of a Governor knows how to fill his pockets while emptying ours!!!!
