With new leaders in place, Powell Valley Healthcare is poised to move forward in a positive direction as the organization begins to heal from wounds of the past.

Two new leaders came on board last month. Sandra Ehman is the new chief financial officer, and Arleen Campeau is the new vice president for patient care services. Both of them indicated a shared vision with Powell Valley Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Bill Patten, and Patten said the new leaders complete a cohesive leadership team.

During a PVHC board meeting last week, Patten recommended the organization contract with Studer Group, which, according to the group’s website, partners with health care organizations to teach and provide resources for them to achieve exceptional clinical, operational and financial outcomes. That is accomplished through “evidence-based leadership” that aligns goals, actions and processes to transform the way health care organizations provide care, the website says.

Patten told the Powell Valley Healthcare board he believes working with the group will help the organization heal faster.

“I want to help us get rid of our recent past,” he said. “I would want to (work with Studer Group) even if there hadn’t been a Paul Cardwell here. But I really want to do it because there was a Paul Cardwell here.”

Powell Valley Healthcare employees have continued to strive to provide good and compassionate care for patients throughout the trials of the past couple of years. But four changes in leadership within those two years, combined with the sense of betrayal left by former CEO Cardwell’s alleged embezzlement and questionable leadership have taken their toll.

We believe that working with a group like Studer could help the Powell Valley Healthcare organization heal, rejuvenate morale and perform with cohesive teamwork while continuing to provide excellent care.

We applaud the board’s enthusiastic approval for Patten to continue pursuing the possibility of a partnership with Studer to help make that happen.