Hospital selects new administrator
Special to The Gazette
Monday, September 29, 2008
Newman hospital’s new chief executive officer will start his job in less than a month.
Robert L. Driewer accepted the position at Newman Regional Health this morning, according to Fred Harder, chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees.
Driewer was chosen by the board following interviews with two candidates recommended by Quorum, the hospital’s management company. Both candidates underwent a full day of on-site interviews last week with the board, medical staff, senior management and department directors.
“We had two very strong candidates to choose from,” said Harder. “We were particularly impressed with Mr. Driewer’s broad knowledge base, his solid experience in physician relations and recruitment, and his emphasis on patient safety and customer service. He is an individual with high energy, a positive attitude and is very team focused. The board is confident that he will be a good fit for our organization and our community.”
Driewer has 33 years of health care experience as a chief executive officer. He served as the CEO of Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Neb. for 11 years. There, Driewer oversaw the merger of Lutheran Community Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital into a regional health care facility consisting of 164 acute-care beds and a skilled nursing and assisted-living facility with nearly 1,200 employees. Before that, he served as CEO at the 144-bed Marshall Medical Center in Marshall, Tex., the 46-bed Sidney Memorial Health Center in Sidney, Neb. and the 42-bed Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City, Neb.
He received his bachelor of science from the University of Nebraska and completed a masters in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as chairman of the Nebraska Hospital Association, chair of the Nebraska Patient Safety Organization and has participated in numerous professional committees and task forces. Driewer was involved in numerous community groups, including the economic development committee and served as president of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce.
His wife, Carolyn, is on the faculty at Wayne State University as a professor in the Teachers College division. They have two grown sons and six grandchildren. Driewer will begin his duties at Newman on Oct. 27.