Hospital board approves Parker as CEO, announces it will not hire new COO

Published 1:19 pm Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Tom Parker, the Chief Operating Officer of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer. The hospital board unanimously approved the appointment, who’d been interim CEO since March, June 2.

The board also approved a new salary of $220,000, an increase of $45,800 from Parker’s previous salary.

In a discussion about the salary, commissioner Gene Pollard suggested setting it at $196,000, in an attempt to save money in the face of the hospital’s large debt.

“We are 100 million in debt, it’s good for us to set an example,” Pollard said. “I think the community would be appreciative of our paying no more than is necessary.”

Commissioners Emma Herron, David Speikers, Joan Young and Dariel Norris all spoke in support of the $220,000 salary, citing Parker’s history and past months of work as the interim CEO.

“Tom is also taking on two jobs, the COO and the CEO,” Norris said, explaining that the hospital will not be hiring a new COO to take Parker’s place.

“The cost of living in the area is one of the most expensive throughout the state and, probably the most important thing to me, is that he has demonstrated to the board and the finance committee that he is willing to step up and help us be more fiscally responsible.”

Speikers said he was confident in Parker’s ability and the (unspecified) savings he had seen so far are indicative of what is to come. Eliminating the COO position will save the district money as well, he said.

The board of commissioners also allowed Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis to set up its firework sales booth on hospital’s east campus property to raise funds for local scholarships. In discussion, the board indicated interest in continuing their relationship with Kiwanis and service clubs in the future.