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TMH officials: administrator should stay

Christina M. Currie

The Memorial Hospital’s board of directors wants interim administrator Susan McGough to consider making Craig her permanent home.

Board members are urging her to become an official candidate for the administrator’s position, left vacant by Randy Phelps six months ago.

In that time, more than 70 people have applied for the administrator’s position. One candidate remains, though the board will consider McGough if she agrees to become a candidate.



McGough has until Jan. 18 to decide. That’s when the board will discuss its options and likely direct the hospital’s management company, Quorum Health Care, to begin negotiations with the top pick.

That person would likely be McGough, if she’s interested, hospital officials say.



“We would like for her to seriously consider staying on,” board president Sue Lyster said. “She’s done such a good job, and she’s made so many positive changes. We’d love to have her stay if it’s something she’s interested in.”

In August, McGough arrived in Craig from Oregon, where her husband works as a regional director of cardiac services. She intended to stay through January but has offered to stay longer if necessary.

McGough oversees a 123-employee, county-owned facility working to construct a $19 million hospital west of Craig. Her primary focus has been cutting expenses so the hospital can pay for a new facility.

She hasn’t committed to staying on at the hospital in a permanent position.

“I want to be flexible,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed being here and the work I’ve done.”

McGough said she never expected her position at The Memorial Hospital to be anything more than temporary.

“We wanted her to know how much we appreciate her and know she would be a great fit,” Lyster said. “We’re serious about her.”

Worland, Wyo., resident George Rohrich was the board’s top choice from the applicants. The board, hospital staff and community members created a list of the traits, experience and strengths they wanted in a new administrator. Quorum Health Care selected the top three applicants using the formula. The board interviewed those candidates and selected Rohrich to return for a second interview.

Rohrich has worked in hospital administration since 1977. He has spent most of his career in rural hospitals.

“He seemed like he’d be a good fit,” Lyster said.

According to his references, Rohrich is good with people, energetic and straightforward, Lyster said. The last hospital in which Rohrich worked, Washakie Medical Center in Worland, received superior ratings. He also scored high in ratings by physicians, she said.

It’s still too early to speculate when a new administrator will be named, Lyster said.


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