Wright

Conventional wisdom dictated from day one – May 15, 2017 – UnityPoint Health Marshalltown VP of Operations Dustin Wright had one of the toughest jobs in town.

Priority one: Play a critical role in turning-around the bankrupt, 103-year old not-for-profit hospital formerly known as Central Iowa Healthcare. Just two weeks prior, UnityPoint Health-Waterloo had taken possession of all CIH assets.

Under CIH management, it lost nearly $18.7 million dollars in 2016, and $15.1 million in 2015, according to information released at a Jan. 10, 2017 public meeting.

CIH was referred to as a “melting ice cube” by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Anita Shodeen earlier in 2017 when court proceedings bogged down.

There were successes and challenges during Wright’s nearly 18-month tenure.

Last month UnityPoint Health officials announced he had taken a position as Chief Executive Officer with Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars.

Wright submitted his resignation Oct. 16. His last day in Marshalltown is Nov. 13 and his first day in Le Mars is Dec. 10.

“Dustin played an instrumental role within UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown and the community,” UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown President Jennifer Friedly said. “We wish Dustin much success in his new role and we are working on an interim plan.”

In an interview last week, Wright discussed the highs and lows of his work locally.

“I think the proudest moments were working in the community and with the UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown team,” he said. “Everyone here is committed to the same goal of keeping health care local. And the decisions like the (closings of) the Cath Lab and Intensive Care Unit are challenges. But from a culture standpoint, we continue to keep our team members first, and we are looking out for the whole of the organization and how we can make health care sustainable in Marshalltown long term.”

Wright also cited as positive an increase in employee engagement.

“From a culture standpoint, our employee engagement was 75 percent in our first survey,” he said. “It was 82 percent in the most recent survey. That continues to be a top priority. It is something any leader in UnityPoint Health is passionate about, that will continue to be a focus for the organization.”

Wright came in as UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown president. But in what was described as a re-organization, Wright’s title was later changed to VP of Operations, reporting to Friedly.

The ICU and Cath Lab closings were two significant issues faced by Wright and team, as they struggled with loss of market share and the ever-changing

health care business environment.

UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown is but one of many mid-size hospitals in Iowa facing the same mounting problems with no easy solutions.

Last week UnityPoint Health Marshalltown administrators announced it would be closing the intensive care unit effective Nov. 30. The closure of the ICU and The Bistro cafe comes after posting a year-to-date loss of $7 million, according to a release last week. The Marshalltown units are behind budget twice as much as anticipated. The ICU is located in the north-side campus while the cafe is located in the south-side campus.

“Decisions such as this are very difficult but necessary if we are to course correct and place Marshalltown on a path to financial sustainability,” UnityPoint leaders said in the release. “As health care continues to change we must make thoughtful, strategic decisions that position our organization for the future and support our ability to carry out our mission over the long-term.”

The ICU has averaged one patient per day, according to the release, and the cafe is operating at a significant loss.

The closures will leave 15 people without jobs. An additional 10 non-patient care positions, both full-time and part-time, are being eliminated. UnityPoint officials are connecting these employees with other jobs the organization has open, according to the release.

Earlier this year, UnityPoint also closed the local Cardiac Catheterization Lab, which offered 24/7/365 emergency cardiac care.

Hospital officials said the number of patients utilizing it did not justify the significant expense necessary to offer the service.

That unit was planned and implemented by CIH management under much fanfare approximately 10 years ago. A significant amount of local fund-raising from individuals and the business community made the facility a reality. For example, the CIH Auxiliary (now the UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Auxiliary) donated $10,000.

Wright Lauded

“I knew he was too good and too talented to keep in Marshalltown for long,” Mayor Joel Greer said after Wright’s resignation was announced. “I am really sad he is leaving. I liked him personally, and I thought he was doing a great job for UnityPoint Health and our local hospital. I also like the people UnityPoint has in leadership positions and I have confidence the person who replaces Dustin will be of the same caliber.”

Greer said Wright was from rural Primghar which is near Le Mars, so he could understand why he would want to be close to home.

Marshall County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Patten echoed Greer’s remarks.

“I am sure he left under good circumstances,” Patten said.

Patten said Wright was faced with a challenging situation taking over the struggling hospital fresh from bankruptcy.

“It is hard to turn around a business that is losing money,” he said. “They were losing millions prior to bankruptcy.”

Wright’s successor will have to solve the loss of business to other Central Iowa hospitals.

At last week’s announcement of the ICU closing, Friedly confirmed lost business to neighboring hospitals continues to be a major problem.

CIH management was also faced with the loss of what is termed “market share.”

The loss of business to hospitals in Ames, Des Moines and Grinnell was identified as problems by staff and residents at the 2017 public meeting.

Friedly said UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown is working with a consultant to examine the loss of business and what can be done to stem the tide.

Work has already started, she said.

“In order for UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown to remain in the community, we must be financially viable as well as have the support of the community, using local services,” the release said.

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Contact Mike Donahey at (641) 753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com