The Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Board of Commissioners voted to terminate Superintendent Rodger McCollum’s contract during their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 3, 2016. The severance agreement includes a 2-week transition and buyout of the remainder of McCollum’s contract, which runs through early December.
As anticipated, the board changed course slightly on the termination agreement terms they approved pursuing on February 10th, where they voted to give McCollum a 3-month severance package, alluding that they were terminating ‘for cause’ and citing fiscal issues led to the decision. Per McCollum’s contract, though, if they were to terminate ‘for cause,’ they were first required to first give 30 days written notice of that ’cause’ and an opportunity to ‘cure’ it.
Board President Dariel Norris now said the reason for the termination was a need for a different direction in leadership. To pursue different leadership immediately, and bypass that 30-day notice and opportunity to rectify requirement, a without cause contract termination was pursued.
“Superintendent McCollum had a vision that he met and completed in building the new hospital facility with the intent to pave the way for a viable future for Snoqualmie Valley Hospital,” Norris said. “As Commissioners, it is our responsibility to make sure the financial investment of the hospital results in a viable medical entity that can meet the health care needs of our local community. There is a need for different leadership to move the Hospital District to the next stage.”
McCollum, who was hired as superintendent in 2004, was contracted through early December of this year. His contract stated termination could be ‘for cause’ or ‘without cause,’ but the ‘without cause’ provision required a full buyout of the contract.
The motion to approve the ‘without cause’ provisional severance agreement passed with Norris, Emma Herron, David Speikers and Joan Young voting in favor and Gene Pollard voting against.
Interim Superintendent Chosen from within
The Board then voted to appoint Tom Parker as interim superintendent, effective immediately. Parker has served as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer since 2010.
“His qualifications and expertise, as well as his familiarity with the operations of the hospital and staff, make him an excellent candidate for the interim CEO,” Norris said. “We are in a crucial time where healthcare is seeing significant advancements. I am confident that Tom is up to the task of leading the District.”
Parker began working in hospitals at age 16, starting as a surgical orderly at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. While there, he also worked as a pharmacy technician and then completed an administrative internship while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Utah. He has a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business.
He completed his administrative fellowship at Legacy Health System in Portland, OR. While at Legacy, he worked in a variety of clinical operations positions including Manager of the Devers Eye Institute, Legacy’s System-wide Director of Heart and Pulmonary Services, Vice-President of Clinical Operations and Administrator of Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.
He also served as the Vice President of Hospital and Community Development at Overlake Medical Center and was the first Executive Director for Camp Korey, a camp for children with serious and life-threatening illnesses.
