Benson new SAMC CEO

By Trisha Maldonado
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Monday, October 22, 2012 11:13 AM MDT


Officials for Southeast Arizona Medical Center announced that Annie Benson has been promoted to chief officer executive on Oct. 17.


“We made a change, our CEO is now Annie Benson rather than Mr. Bickel,” SAMC Board of Directors President James Riley said.

Bickel had served as CEO for the last three years replacing Michael Carter.

She has been with SAMC for 35 years and has held a number of different positions. Benson has been the chief nursing officer and the chief operating officer. Under Carter she was the designated hospital administrator.

Benson previously was director of quality management and regulation compliancy at the hospital.

“She knows the organization from top to bottom,” Riley said. “We believe she is highly regarded among the staff.”

Comments

    El Bulldog wrote on Oct 24, 2012 10:58 PM:

    " To Disgusted,

    I agree 100% with you that everyone needs to come together to help the hospital succeed. Here's some advice for you. Before you start calling people ignorant, learn English! The word is unacceptable. The other word is encouraging. You'll be taken seriously rather than laughed at! "

    happy employee wrote on Oct 24, 2012 12:39 PM:

    " First of all, "Concerned Douglas Citizen", ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You think the hospital was going in a positive direction with Bickle? "If it's not broke, why fix it?" I'm wondering if your post was a joke...
    Our community hospital IS broken and needs a great deal of fixing, which includes hiring a new lab manager! Bickle and Malusky might have "good public records", but you don't work with or for them, so you only know what the internet has to say about them. One commenter, "Indian", said it all in her post. Malusky is rude, power hungry, and doesn't take patient care into consideration. I won't even get started on the problems the emergency dept has had with lab, and it's not the phlebs or techs fault, it's their manager, "JOHN ALMIGHTY!"

    On a more positive note, hopefully great things will come of our new CEO and CFO! I love where I work. We have a great medical staff who really care for patients and we want to give them a wonderful place to receive quality care close to home! "

    Disgusted wrote on Oct 24, 2012 10:37 AM:

    " I can't believe how the dispatch is posting all these hurtful, disgusting comments from anonymous people. This is a hospital who treats and cares for patients, all these attacks from former, and recent employees is unexceptible. In order to get this hospital to what it once was EVERYONE needs to come together as a TEAM, and stop with all the ignorance! DOUGLAS DISPATCH QUIT INCOURAGING IGNORANCE, and HELP by posting only POSITIVE comments!!! THANK YOU.. "

    douglas citizen wrote on Oct 24, 2012 10:35 AM:

    " the city needs to contact Mr. Barber and get him to give us federal money for our hospital. if he won't give us money they need to get obama to pay for the hospital under obama care. and hire more latinos,and give free hospital and doctors to Los Pobres. "

    Cry Me a River wrote on Oct 23, 2012 1:48 PM:

    " To the past employee who didn’t get weekends Boo hoo-hoo! You’re typical to the problem you complain about. You’ve casted away (your,) self-worth, ability, training and education out the door over “Not” having weekends or a piece of a weekend off. You’ve become, bitter enough about it to still become upset after you’ve removed yourself from SAMC. And I’d wager you’ve replaced the “un-fair” emotion with the word “injustice” to describe your treatment. Let It Go! You will feel better
    If weekends off are what is important and “fair” for you to be gainfully employed, then why accept employment with a company that doesn’t guarantee them? Did you waste your time and advanced education on a field that couldn’t or wouldn’t give you what you valued most? Weekends off? Fairness in employment means that you are working within the Contract you signed or the SOP of the position you applied and was hired for. FSLA covers the rest of Government regulations of employment.
    Becoming upset of what you see as not being “fair” over “weekends” Has nothing to do with fairness only jealously. Jealous people will seek out jealous people and feeds itself.
    This new lady coming on board will be faced with this deep rooted, septic employee attitude that permeates many areas of her responsibilities! The I have it, and the I want it, the injustice crowd. Employee’s whining and moaning with-in their cliques and within patients ear shots. "

    BYE BYE wrote on Oct 23, 2012 1:45 PM:

    " C-MACK, you couldn't have said it better/. Good job you didn't sugar coat anything. BYE BYE KIM and JOHN, poor leadership! "

    haha wrote on Oct 23, 2012 1:02 PM:

    " Funny how Johns having a blast writing all these comments to defend himself (anonymously). HAHAHA BIG LAUGH!!! This little town is filled with many wonderful people, and people who don't put up with ignorance, or ignorant people like HIM!!! "

    Indian wrote on Oct 23, 2012 12:22 PM:

    " I worked under John up until a few months ago. He's the WORST person to work for, he always threatens his staff. his employees are afraid of him , he talks about "RULES" in one of his post he posted, its not called RULES its called control. He has harassed another former employee because she was pregnant, telling her she needed to use a lab jacket because she was "showing" that's called discrimination, harassment why should she have to cover herself? He has went as far in telling us we can't collect anything from ER unless there's an order, which delayed patient care, and he didn't care. He would tell us repeatedly " I'm IN CONTROL NOT THEM", " THIS I MY DEPT and no one can do anything to me" SCARY. Take a second look at your wonderful lab manager, he's sick!! Just think of your loved once having their health being delayed only because John won't run the blood even if the patient is coding i know I will drive down the road to get good services with people like John my mother who has 4 stints placed may die because of his delay of care. Good luck Annie I do wish you all the best get rid of two people "

    samc employee wrote on Oct 23, 2012 11:57 AM:

    " I think if we would do our jobs instead of worring of other peoples mistakes , we would give a more quality service. "

    EMPLOYEE wrote on Oct 23, 2012 11:44 AM:

    " FIRST CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CEO. IN MY OPINION I THINK MR MALUSKY WOULD OFF BEEN A GOOD CEO FOR THE HOSPITAL,HE
    KNOWS HOW TO SET "RULES" AND THATS WHAT WE NEED FOR THE HOSPITAL. ESPECIALLY IN THE ER ROOM. "

    Past Employee wrote on Oct 22, 2012 10:40 PM:

    " To "Nothing but the facts" let me indulge you with a retort, one time only. You obviously know who I am, my level of education and age, the goings on at this hospital, that the sky is blue and water is wet. All jokes aside, I know the world has more severe issues yet this topic is about the hospital not the world, I do know staffing and finding hours are difficult to accommodate most people. I did not have any taste of this power you speak of under Carter, if you read my statement you would know what I was speaking of, someone else on this thread actually might, right curious? Envy, maybe a little when I worked there; not anymore, but is it wrong to ask for managers to be fair and let each employee have one weekend (rotate weekends) off to enjoy with family or loved ones? I do not think so. Is is it selfish? If wanting one weekend off for family, friends, a life then call me selfish. My gripe is that the manager has favorites along with another manager mentioned in another comment, and these favorites get the schedules they want, when all they do is go out when there are others who get told they can't get days off even if they request them because someone else is getting them even if you asked before they did. They can ask for all weekends off and get them in one month. I do not think that is being fair, do you? I can honestly say that most people would agree that what I am speaking of is unfair in all fields of employment. You assume things in your post, and you know what they say when people assume right? Any who, you assume I got fired, was a trouble maker or was forced out but I chose to leave on my own accord for a different job, in a different city, in the same field as soon as I was offered a better position plus I could spend time with loved ones and where managers know how to be fair. Your attempt to "educate" backfired. I would continue about your small insignificant rant but I will not indulge you anymore. You could respond and to me it will mean nothing, and as stated earlier, I will not respond back as you proved you did not know what you were speaking of. In closing thank you for your humorous attempt at "educating" me and assumptions. Again, since you know nothing but the facts, you know what they say about people that assume...On a last note I do know what the hospital has been through, I was an employee there hence the name, Past Employee. Thank you for the entertaining comment by the way. "

    Concerned Douglas Citizen wrote on Oct 22, 2012 10:29 PM:

    " First of all, as a taxpayer of this state and a citizen of Douglas, I would like to state the following in regards to what is currently taking place at SEAMC. This is how I see it from my point of view.
    First of all and I am going to be blunt about it and some peoples' feelings are going to be hurt, but oh well. I could personally careless. I am an educated man and as an American, have the freedom to speak my mind and above all the truth.

    This town is very corrupt and everyone knows it,it is no big secret. Trust me, I work law enforcement and I know this for a fact. I can even throw names out there, but I will not. People, all I will say is do your research on this town, you would be surprised as to it's dirty little secrets it hides. I guess the internet can be thanked since everything is public record. However,this is not the place to do so. I would rather look a person in the eye and tell them to their face that they are corrupt and enjoy seeing the look on their face in the process when they are confronted with the truth. They know who they are. Therefore, I am not surprised that there is some political pressure to get rid of some good quality leaders at SEAMC, just to accomodate some folks who are perhaps less than qualified or perhaps do not possess the skills, leadership and drive to manage a health care facility, such as our hospital. I can honestly say that the hospital is improving because these folks came in and cleaned house. They did what other folks failed to do in the past. Now they are considered mean,heartless, etc because they did what had to be done.
    I have done my research in regards to the lab manager and the outgoing CEO of this health care facility and these two individuals are good quality leaders. They have held leadership positions in the military as well as in the civilian world.They have good records. It is a shame that they are leaving. Yes, they have had to make hard and tough decisions. It comes with the job. If a person can not make difficult and tough decisions and live with themselves, knowing that they made a good decision or perhaps second guessing their decisions, then they have no business in a leadership position.I am sure that they at times, felt horrible and bad about making some tough decisions, but they knew that in the long run it was in the best interest of the hospital and the local community. Again, a hospital serves the public and taxpayers deserve to receive quality service and people should be held accountable if they are not living up to the expectations of it's supporters who are the taxpayers.

    It is quite obvious and I am not trying to belittle the new CEO's qualifications or committment to do her job, that once she is sworn in/apointed that the "Good Old Boy" system will be in place and the hospital will suffer in the long run because some of the people that were previously let go that affected the overall morale and operation of the hospital will be brought back. I do agree that everyone deserves a chance and hopefully she will do good, however I do not see the point of replacing the lab manager and the CEO. If it is not broke, then why fix it?. That is how the saying goes. Again, political pressure and $$$$$$. That is what this in my opinion is all about.

    The political side of the business knows that these folks will not vouch and give in to their political demands and bs.Furthermore,because they are outsiders,(not from Douglas) they are seen as a problem,an insect, cancer that has to be eliminated, so therefore they can get a local puppet that give in to the political demands. Trust me, I am an outsider and after living in this town for many years, I know how crooked and corrupt this little town is. Again, do your research.

    To summarize, I believe our hospital was headed in a right direction under the guidance and leadership of Mr Bickel and Mr Malusky and soon it will going down the drain. But I guess that is better than providing quality health care to our community which is what they did. Every day I am convinced, especially now that my money and my health care needs will be going to Bisbee or Sierra Vista.


    Respectfully submitted:

    A concerned citizen, responsible taxpayer and a voting American. "

    Juan C. wrote on Oct 21, 2012 5:58 PM:

    " After reading the comments posted here, now I know why Douglas can never have a good hospital. Everybody just wants to name call and hide behind a silly false name. How hospitals are administered and how health care is provided has made a radical change in the past 20 years or so. With all the childish ways of the people of Douglas it is no wonder that highly skilled administrators won't ever consider working here in Douglas. Don't you people relise that the loss of the hospital is closer than you know. If the hospital closes, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Maybe Douglas doesn't deserve a hospital. "

    Loyal C-Mack Employee wrote on Oct 21, 2012 12:54 PM:

    " I have been, and I still am a loyal employee of the hospital for the better part of the last 15 years! I know what goes on every day; I see what goes on every day. Just to enlighten some of you; first Annie Benson is a hard working, dedicated, and wonderful person! She has a hard task ahead of her, but trust me she will help get the hospital back on track. Annie becoming CEO is the best thing that has happened to our hospital in the last 3 years! Next, those of you who are praising the Lab manager obviously don't know how much of the problem he has been since he has been hired! I work directly with patient care and I will testify to the many incidences were patient care has been grossly compromised, because of John Malusky's lack of understanding and knowledge of how a Lab value is crucial to a patients immediate care. He has turned the lab into a joke, and has hired staff that is less than qualified, to do the job. John is a huge part of the cancer that has been killing our hospital and he needs to go! There is nothing bad that should be said or written about the dedicated and hard working people in the trenches, those getting their hands dirty every single day! The housekeeping staff, the CNA's, the ER Tech's, the nurses, and the doctors. But new leadership is in order, and with that being said, Kim Duncan the current director of nursing, like Malusky should pack her bags and leave Douglas as fast as she can! This person has not contributed a single positive thing to our hospital at all! Brian Bickle and Alvin Chilton destroyed the hospital, but they didn't do it alone John and Kim were the minions of these two tyrants they were the two rats that gnawed at their heels and kissed any part of them they could just to keep their cushy jobs. Annie is smart and does not abide brown nosers, so I’m confident that Kim and John's days at SAMC are numbered! Our hospital is a good place, and the people of Douglas should be proud of the hard working staff that go to work day after day to serve the city. Good things are coming, new changes are on the horizon, just a little house cleaning has to be done in order to get the hospital back to a level that everyone can and will be proud of! "

    Sad wrote on Oct 21, 2012 12:05 PM:

    " It's unbelievable the politics that plays out even in our hospital. People write ugly things about our schools...yet they are fine, they write ugly things about our city leaders..yet they continue to work to make it better...they write ugly things about our law enforcement ...yet they continue to serve. Now it's the hospital and I have to say I have gotten very good service when I have been there. Do they have issues I am sure they do especially when you have people who are not insured showing up for emergency treatment. Can they turn them away, of course not..thus the financial burden. I like Mr. Bickel, he was always looking for ways to improve the hospital. He is always out in the community getting involved. But as always politics gets in the way of progress. We need the hospital just as we need our policemen, schools and city council. It is a mistake to bring someone new when Mr. Bickel

    has worked through the hardest times since he took over. Now you have to start again and in fear they will close. Why can't Douglas give people a chance to stay and prove themselves rather than drive them away? Very sad. Good luck Mr. Bickel wish you would stay and fight! "

    OldCombatMedicRN wrote on Oct 19, 2012 10:06 PM:

    " Congratulations to Annie. She's been dedicated to Douglas & SAMC forever. Also congrats to Mary Fernandez CFO. She was a great Director of Revenue Management at Sierra Vista and will get SAMC's finances in good shape. And Congrats to all the current employees at SAMC for hanging in through tough times. Their a great group who could make more money at other places but choose to care for their community.In 22 years of providing health care around the world, they're some of the best people I've worked with;they work with so little to do so much. When I come down from Tucson to help out, I'm always amazed at what they do with so little. "

    Nothing but the facts... wrote on Oct 19, 2012 8:01 PM:

    " Dear Past Employee,
    I am really disappointed in you. Is what you are complaining about really and truly even significant? From where I am standing, your complaints are rather petty in the grand scheme of things. I believe that the hospital and the entire world, in general, have bigger issues to think about than whether someone has the weekends off or not. If you yourself, had ever attempted being a manager (and my guess is you may never have or perhaps failed miserably at it-most people trash the things they most covet...) you would know that staffing is probably one of the most difficult facets of being a manager and a most dynamic beast, if you will, in rural Arizona with a hospital experiencing the amount of chaos and turnover that the hospital has been experiencing in the last 2-3 yrs. I am really breaking my own rules by over-indulging in this dialogue with you, but I will attempt to educate you just for the sheer and "dirty little pleasure" of it. But before I do that, please let me give you some advice. Never do battle with other people that you know you are no match for, really. You obviously have minimal education-that is clear from the bland, infantile issues you bring forth; nothing concrete, nothing even remotely inspirational and quite frankly, old. You are probably a has-been, Carrie-brown-noser who experienced a small taste of power when Carter was here and you so long for it. I can smell the envy in your post. You have probably been labeled as a "trouble-maker" and probably not trusted by anyone except maybe immediate family. Stop trashing people when you yourself have not had the courage to engage in the activities you so criticize. It just makes you look silly, envious and petty. Do yourself and all of the world a favor...stop wasting our time with has-been complaints that are not even issues now. Everyone there now is more than competent and extremely fair. That is more than I can say for you...nobody ever trusted you, you were a mute when confronted with a manifesto you presented to the CEO about the CNO you now trash and you were essentially taken out because you were simply not wanted or trusted. Get over yourself and get a life. Oh, but then what would do you? You have devoted yourself to trashing the hospital. I have nothing but disgust and contempt for you or anyone else who has not either walked in those employees/manager's shoes or given anyone who was attempting to make a change a chance. I doubt you have done either. And even though you hide behind the cloak of anonimity, I still know your identity. It wasn't so hard to figure out. You have not earned the right to criticize anyone at the hospital because you bailed out or more accurately, were forced out by the majority. They simply didnt want you. "

    Curious wrote on Oct 19, 2012 6:47 PM:

    " Hey, past employee, give us a hint...who might you be talking about? Let me make it easy for you...is she under 5 ft inches or over 5 ft? You sound like you really got shafted... "

    View from Afar wrote on Oct 19, 2012 4:07 PM:

    " Notice it's the "former" or "Ex" employees with the problems? There's a reason why they're no longer there.

    Annie will do a great job. BTW - its "board", not "bored". "

    past employee wrote on Oct 18, 2012 2:40 PM:

    " former employee I couldn't agree more with you, but I doubt it will get neautral or change as they have managers who show favoritism to certain employees like giving some every weekend off or every request for days off even if it is 4 times during one month yet when others ask they get told no or some kind of excuse when it should be fair and each employee at least have one weekend off a month so as they can at least spend time with family who might have weekends off. I am pretty sure you know which manager and employees I am speaking of and if she reads this she will know too. It is too bad that they do not know how to treat the employees equally and they end up losing good ones. I have heard a few might be quitting too and looking for employement elsewhere do to the favoritism being shown and lack of management skills by these so called managers, amongst other things, like blaming employees when it was someone else that messed up. I left for these reasons and others, Bickle being one of them. Hopefully Annie can get the managers and set them straight. Time will tell. And hopefully the city will now help the hospital out or build a new one like they were planning on a few years ago right before Bickle came in. Carter was bringing all the right pieces in to better this facility and when Bickle came in he got rid of most people Carter hired and then everything really started going down from there. "

    DISSAPOINTED GIRL wrote on Oct 18, 2012 2:24 PM:

    " I CAN'T BELIVE HOW FAR HUMANS CAN GO JUST LOOKING AT A STRONG PERSONALITY OF A PERSON LIKE THE LAB MANAGER. ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE HE MADE MANY GOOOOOD CHANGES AND FINALLY SOMEBODY MADE "R U L E S" THAT DEFINITELY BOTHERED MANY WORKERS. STOP TALKING BAD OF SAMC IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING BAD TO SAY YOU BETTER BE QUIET IF THIS HOSPITAL CLOSES MANY CITIZENS WILL BE AFFECTED. "

    former employee wrote on Oct 18, 2012 1:56 PM:

    " douglas citizen: Unfortunately as we all well know, nothing is free in this world and if SAMC continues to give out "free" care to people then it will end up closing up. I think this was the best decision the Board could have made. Hang in there SAMC staff and join forces with your new CEO to get the hospital out of the hole that this past CEO put us in. "

    employee wrote on Oct 18, 2012 1:53 PM:

    " I PERSONALY THINK THAT THE LAB MANGER IS A GREAT INFLUENCE ON THE LAB HERE AT THE HOSPITAL. HE HAS DONE A LOT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND SERVICES OF THE LAB. IF YOU THINK THAT BEING PROFESSIONAL IS BEING NEGATIVE THEN THAT IS YOUR OPINION. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING BAD TO SAY WHEN YOU DONT KNOW A PERSON, BUT IF YOU WERE TO SEE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT HE HAS PUT INTO THE LAB YOU WOULD THINK OTHERWISE. THE HOSPITAL IS A GREAT PLACE FOR SERVICES. PEOPLE JUST DONT GIVE IT A CHANCE BECAUSE OF ALL THE NEGATIVE ANIMOSITY THAT "FORMER EMPLOYEES" HAVE TAKEN WITH THEM. "

    Happy wrote on Oct 18, 2012 1:52 PM:

    " Congrats Annie. You'll do a great job. Bring Debbie back. Best of luck. "

    Marty wrote on Oct 18, 2012 1:32 PM:

    " Congratulations Annie and to the hospital. You have a hard task at hand rebuilding the hospital and regaining the respect and trust of everone. The downfall was not all Bickle. As I see it, he was a third of the problem. Another third has simply been the economy. The final third has been the board. They have had to have been involved in the decisions as well as letting Bickle stay even after he admitted he could not do the job by having to get help from Sierra Vista. In the interest in truly new beginnings it is time for an entirely new hospital board. Good luck to Annie and the staff of truly hard working professionals. "

    healthcare wrote on Oct 18, 2012 12:35 PM:

    " Finally!!! Annie knows what she is doing. She cares about quality patient care and teamwork. I am sure she will bring the hospital to life with her energy and positive attitude. "

    G wrote on Oct 18, 2012 12:31 PM:

    " Congrats Annie- all I can say is FINALLY. About time out with Bickle- he has done nothing but damage. "

    T wrote on Oct 18, 2012 9:44 AM:

    " Finally SAMC is going the right direction. It was being run into the dirt and now hopefully under proper guidance will head back to the respectable facility that Carter had it at.Congratulations Annie, make us proud. "

    former employee wrote on Oct 18, 2012 6:58 AM:

    " The board finally woke up. That's GREAT, just too bad it took this long, Hope Annie will be neutral, fair, and listen to people, support her staff, and not judge,hope she gets rid of a few negative people in that building and will bring back what it once was 4 yrs ago. Bring depts back as a team, get rid of lab manager he;s just like Bickel. My hat goes off to you Annie, best luck "

    Hopeful wrote on Oct 17, 2012 7:12 PM:

    " About time they got rid of him, they should have done this along time ago before he got rid of quality staff that was trying to make the hospital better. Maybe now the hospital will improve and the city will help them out instead of trying to lure Bisbee to open a facility here. "

    douglas citizen wrote on Oct 17, 2012 5:54 PM:

    " Will the new person in charge of the hospital take care of the pobres and give them free hospital and doctors? "

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