Hawaii Health Systems Corp. announced Tuesday that it has named Alice Hall acting president and chief executive officer of the nation’s fourth-largest public health system, which continues to lose money annually and seek public funding to stay afloat.
The appointment of Hall, who previously served in the position in 2010 and 2011, follows the July ouster of former head Bruce Anderson amid pressure to keep up with technological demands and secure new cash for the struggling facilities that include Leahi Hospital on Oahu, Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital on Hawaii island.
Anderson, former head of the state Department of Health, took the helm of the 14-member network in April 2011, succeeding Hall.
Hall has worked for HHSC for nearly 20 years as vice president and general counsel. Previously, she was a deputy attorney general for the state.
"HHSC is appreciative that Ms. Hall has agreed to help lead HHSC through a very challenging period, preparing for the implementation of health reform, while also responding effectively to the increased need for safety net services during an evolving and uncertain environment," HHSC board chairman Avery Chumbley said in a statement. "Alice’s experience in law, health issues, legislation and administration enables her to take on this acting role."
The board said it will begin work on a plan for finding a permanent president and CEO.
"We felt the organization was at a point where it needed to go in a different direction," Chumbley said in July after Anderson’s departure.
Anderson was HHSC’s highest-paid employee, earning a salary of $242,250. His cellphone was disconnected the day of his departure and he has been unreachable since. Hall currently earns $160,000 and will get an increase, Chumbley said.
Anderson had been at odds with the board over a controversial move to privatize part of the system and also faced scrutiny because the cost to convert to electronic medical records at the public hospitals is now expected to be double earlier estimates. The estimated cost is now more than $100 million over five years.
The public hospital system posted an operating loss of $143.5 million last year, while the state contributed $73.4 million in general fund subsidies. HHSC’s total annual operating budget is $611 million.
Prior to Hall’s first stint as head of the troubled facilities, HHSC’s board fired former president and CEO Tom Driskill before the end of his contract due to conflicts in the vision for the organization, said state Sen. Josh Green.
"Tom was a controversial figure for the board and apparently Bruce must have also been somewhat controversial for the board," Green said. "At the end of the day, the board is responsible to the people of Hawaii and they need to manage this large public asset responsibly, so I’m hoping they’re making good decisions. She (Hall) is a very good person and very capable so we’ll see what their long-term plans are."
