Palm Drive Hospital directors Thursday hired an interim chief executive officer to run the Sebastopol facility for the next three months as it begins an alliance with Marin General Hospital.
Charles R. Guenther, former CEO of Eastern Plumas Health Care in Portola, was hired at a salary of $20,000 per month. He replaces Rich Polheber, who has served as Palm Drive CEO for HealthTech Management Services, a Brentwood, Tenn., company that has managed Palm Drive the past two years.
Under the new alliance, HealthTech will no longer manage Palm Drive but remain as a consultant.
As part of the agreement with Marin General, Palm Drive pays the hospital $15,000 a month, shares Marin General's chief financial officer and has access to Marin General's specialists, medical foundation and business services.
The alliance is expected to help bring more primary and specialty care doctors to the hospital, add medical services,and improve finances.
Guenther will serve as interim CEO while Palm Drive directors search for a permanent administrator.
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