Welch Named Interim CEO at JCH&L
Bill Welch of Fairbury will serve as the interim CEO at Jefferson Community Health & Life starting on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Lana Likens has served as temporary interim CEO since Aug. 19 when previous CEO Burke Kline resigned.
Welch served as CEO of Jefferson Community Health & Life from 1993 to 2013. Since his retirement he has served as interim CEO at Crete, Friend, Central City, and Geneva.
“I look forward to return to JCH&L as interim CEO and assisting Jefferson Community Health & Life through this transition,” Welch said.
During Welch’s tenure at JCH&L he helped JCH&L become a charter member of the Heartland Health Alliance, and served as chairman of the board. JCH&L became a Critical Access Hospital, which was advantageous to funding. Welch led JCH&L to become the first critical access hospital in Nebraska to apply for and receive an Edgerton Award for Commitment to Quality in 2004. He led JCH&L to begin the process of a Balanced Scorecard for the facility. He has led JCH&L through the remodeling of emergency and outpatient areas; the addition of a community fitness center; the addition of an assisted living facility; the addition of a new surgical area and expanded outpatient area; and the addition of 8 new units at Cedarwood assisted living.
In 2009, Bill received the NHA’s Excellence in Service Award. In 2013 he received the NHA’s Meritorious Service Award.
JCH&L is now accepting applications for the CEO position.
“Our board is committed to find a leader for JCH&L who will help us continue to inspire our team, drive innovation, and lead JCH&L toward continued growth and success. We strive to inspire our area residents to a lifetime of health, and be a vital and trusted health care partner in Jefferson County and beyond,” said Trevor Steinmeyer, board chairman.
JCH&L is a 17-bed Critical Access Hospital which offers inpatient and outpatient services, family medicine clinic, Burkley Fitness Center, Gardenside long-term care, and Home Health Services. It is governed by an 8-member board. JCH&L has served Jefferson County and the surrounding area since 1963.
