Smith Decides Insurance is His Future
by C.F. David

Memorial Hospital Administrator John Smith has tendered his resignation, effective this month’s end.

“I have made a decision to stay with Modern Woodmen,” Smith explained. Smith took the job on Sept. 1, in a 90-day interim capacity, succeeding Alan Bird who had moved to Florida to work for Cypress Health Systems, a Louisiana based health-care consulting company.

Bird, who had only been in the position for about six months, took a job as an administrator in a larger market. (The Memorial Hospital Board then signed a consulting agreement with Cypress, which is chaired by Bird’s brother Kim.)

Asked if a search was on for his replacement, Smith replied, “They (the hospital board) are in an interviewing process right now.”

Smith responded in the affirmative when asked if Cypress was involved in the on-going process. “I hate to leave; I wish I could do both jobs,” Smith said, “But there are not enough hours in the day.” “It’s a good place to be. There is a quality staff and doctors here.”

Smith, when asked if the arrival of Dr. Roger Bombach back in Boise City had endangered the hospital’s new Rural Health Clinic, said “No.”