CORDELE — Jim Martin, chief executive of Crisp Regional Health Services, will retire at the end of the year, he told the Dispatch Thursday.
Martin has served as the head administrator for the hospital and its related health services since 1986, ushering the organization through the construction of an entirely new hospital in 1990, a corporate reorganization in 1993 that led to significant new growth, and a sizable expansion project this year that will be unveiled in an open house Sunday.
Crisp Regional’s governing board has already hired a new chief executive. Skip Wright, who works in the healthcare field now in Atlanta, will report to work Monday. Wright has bachelor and master’s degrees in business from Auburn University, and he has previously worked as chief executive for hospitals in Douglas, Atlanta, and Decatur, Martin said.
“I’ve known him for something like 25 years,” Martin said of Wright, “and he’s really a great guy.”
Martin said he and Wright will work together beginning Monday to ensure a smooth transition.
“We’re a rather diversified organization and he and I will spend some time together going over each area we have,” Martin said.
Much of Crisp Regional’s diversity stems from the 1993 corporate reorganization. After the completion of the new 65-bed hospital, Crisp Regional converted the old facility into medical offices and added other sites to the Crisp Regional family, including a 143-bed nursing care center, an assisted living facility, several rural health clinics, hospice services and more.
“I give the governing board credit for that,” Martin said. “They chose to undertake the restructuring, which gave us a lot of freedom to do what we do wanted.”
The hospital alone has grown into a regional provider of state-of-the-art health services, serving residents of Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Sumter, Worth and Wilcox counties. The 28,000-square-foot expansion to the facility, which began in November of 2007, includes a new 16-bed intensive care unit, a new medical records department, work areas for physicians, consultation rooms, and additional space for the imaging department.
Martin said he is looking forward to retirement, but it will take some time to get adjusted. He and his wife Wilma plan to stay in Crisp County.
“I have mixed feelings about retiring. I really care about the great employees we have here and I’ll miss them on daily basis,” he said.
Local news
Related Photos
Martin retiring as Crisp Regional head
- Local news
-
-
Business steady at inland port
Containers were being unloaded Tuesday from train cars parked at Cordele Intermodal Services on 13th Ave. E. Those containers will be transported to their destinations by truck.
-
Ground broken Monday
-
Cordelean faces felony, traffic charges filed after chase
A 43-year-old local man has been charged with multiple offenses stemming from weekend incidents involving authorities in Crisp and Dooly Counties.
-
Fees set in Wilcox
Meeting in special session Thursday, Wilcox commissioners set qualifying fees for the 2012 election of constitutional officers in the county.
-
Tyson named business of the year
VIENNA — Tyson Foods of Vienna was honored as the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year during the organization’s annual dinner and meeting Thursday night.
-
Council seeks answers
BYROMVILLE — Not only members of the general public, but city officials here are having problems getting information about the town's financial status.
-
Suspected drug distributor arrested
CORDELE — Execution of a search warrant at 620 15th Ave. E. Thursday afternoon has led to the arrest of a 57-year-old resident for drug violations.
-
Teen Maze returning
For the third time in the last four years, Teen Maze is returning to Crisp County High School this spring.
-
Pecan producers invited to meeting
All area pecan producers are invited to a production meeting Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 12 noon in the Crisp County Ag Assembly Room.
-
Take your favorite girl(s) to a dance
Fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles and other father figures have an opportunity to make some young girl feel really special this Friday.
- More Local news Headlines
-
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Komen Official Out After Planned Parenthood Row
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
