WARMC gets new chief executive

BULLHEAD CITY - Lee Christenson, a CEO with more than 30 years of hospital experience, has been named CEO of Western Arizona Regional Medical Center.

Christenson starts April 2, replacing David Selman, who resigned Jan. 26 after about 16 months with the local hospital.

A nationwide search for a new CEO began after Selman's resignation. In the meantime, the hospital was headed by Les Luke, a group CEO project director.

Christenson was most recently president and CEO of Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz, Pa. Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer at Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lancaster, Pa.

He says he likes the area and has been received warmly by the staff.

“My wife Pam and I were extremely impressed with the area and the people we met,” Christenson said in a statement. “From the board, to the physicians and staff, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I know we are going to feel right at home.”

Christenson received a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts from Millikin University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Medical services in Laughlin improve

LAUGHLIN - University Medical Center interim CEO Kathryn Silver and Valley View Medical Center CEO Jim Matney were applauded March 22, at the Laughlin Community Social Services Committee meeting after they announced the Fort Mojave hospital and the Clark County hospital branch in Nevada plan to partner to expand medical services to the South County community.

Matney said his company, LifePoint Hospitals Inc., is recruiting a primary care physician who will live in Laughlin and work in unoccupied space at UMC's Laughlin Quick Care Center. The center is located on Bruce Woodbury Drive immediately behind the Preferred Outlet Mall complex on Casino Drive.

And Matney added his company plans to make maximum utilization of space at Laughlin UMC Quick Care for an imaging diagnostic center. Silver said this will include a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, mammography for women and ultrasound machines.

Silver explained how Valley View got involved, saying she was letting them know months ago the rumors of the Laughlin center being closed were absolute myths. But this led to more discussions and Valley View deserves full credit for the upcoming expansion of service, she said.

“We have been presented with an opportunity that fell into our laps by accident.” she said.

Her announcement of the proposed expansion of medical services noted that visits by specialists will continue. Indeed, she indicated, having a primary care physician - Matney said he'd like to see the new doctor in town no later than July or August - should increase referrals to the specialists and thus increase the number of their visits.

After the meeting, Matney said no thought had been given, at this point, to LifePoint constructing a hospital in Laughlin.