An interim administrator for Craig’s hospital should be in place as soon as next week.

Susan McGough will rep-lace longtime administrator Randy Phelps, who voluntarily resigned last week from The Memorial Hospital. Phelps has served as the hospital’s chief executive officer for the past 18 years. McGough, like Phleps, is an employee of Quorum Health Services, TMH’s management company.

“The interim administrator will get all the assistance from me that she needs,” Phelps said Monday. “I’ll do everything possible to make it work out well.”

Part of the hospital’s contract with Quorum involves providing TMH with an interim position. Board members were told by Quorum to expect to hire a permanent administrator within the next two months.

Board members soon will gather to decide what kinds of qualities they would like to see in a new administrator and ask Quorum to present candidates with those qualifications, TMH board member Ron Danner said.

“We’re going to have a lot to talk about,” he said. “It will involve a lot of input from administration, stakeholders, medical staff and commissioners. It will be a collaborative effort.”

Danner said that Quorum will provide board members with candidates, but filling the position is ultimately a board decision.

Board member Corrie Scott said the change should be a positive step for the community.

“We feel this is moving forward with the building project for our hospital,” she said. “Change is good sometimes. The community should not be alarmed in any way.”

Board member Don Myers also said he thought the transition would be smooth.

“I think we’re fine,” he said. “There’s not a problem.”

Danner said he has heard some concerns from people, including medical staff, about a shift in TMH’s management, considering the hospital’s current effort to construct a new building. He said there might be “challenges,” but that the board is committed to providing the best health care for the community,

“There’s going to be a transition, but Randy can help transition her into that position,” Danner said. “Randy’s one of the best people I’ve ever known. He’s a real solid person by the nature of personality.”

Phelps said that he has no specific plans for seeking employment and that he hopes not to move out of the area.

Amy Hamilton can be reached at 824-7031.