Sidney,Neb.-- The Memorial Health Center (MHC) board of directors announced this week that Douglas A. Faus, MBA, MHA, has been appointed as the interim chief executive officer of Memorial Health Center until a permanent CEO is selected. The national search for this position is currently being conducted.

“We want to make sure that we do our due diligence to find the right fit for Memorial Health Center and the communities we serve,” said Rob Robinson, MHC board of directors chairman. “Appointing an interim CEO allows us time to do that while ensuring that the hospital is successfully operating on a day-to-day basis and achieving goals in the meantime.”

Faus has more than 12 years experience serving as a CEO of small community hospitals including Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield, Iowa, and Estes Park Medical Center in Estes Park, Colo. He currently serves as the chief operating officer of Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo.

“I am excited about the new interim appointment and look forward to providing leadership in a health care facility with such an excellent reputation for quality care,” said Faus. “I am eager to begin collaborating with the physicians and staff to provide health care services in the area until a permanent CEO is appointed.”

Faus received his master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Akron in Ohio. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Faus will begin his new appointment on Jan. 3, 2011.

Memorial Health Center and PVHS last week announced a management services agreement that calls for PVHS to provide management support of MHC. The day-to-day operations, responsibilities, policies and decisions made for the hospital will continue to rest with the MHC board of directors and staff.

For more information, please contact Evie Ranslem-Parsons, MHC director of public relations, at 308.254.5825, email at erparsons@memorialhealthcenter.org or go to www.memorialhealthcenter.org.