The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations congratulates several members recently honored in Becker’s Hospitals Review’s latest article, 90 Critical Access Hospital CEOs to Know in 2024. To read the full article click here.
Becker’s Hospital Review wrote:
Critical access hospitals are those that offer 24/7 emergency care and have no more than 25 inpatient beds. These executives are experts in service line expansion, provider recruitment and retention, and the establishment of key partnerships. Their efforts ensure their hospitals serve as vital resources for their communities.
The CEOs recognized here are devoted to high care quality, patient safety and financial stability. These leaders bring crucial care services to their organizations, recruit top physicians, and join forces with larger hospitals and health systems that can provide additional resources.
Honorees from South Dakota include:
John Ayoub. CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics (Mobridge, S.D.). Mr. Ayoub is CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics, where he oversees the 25-bed critical access hospitals as well as four rural health clinics, an assisted living and senior living facility, and a specialty clinic. Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics serves as the largest employer in Mobridge and Walworth County, S.D., with over 190 staff members. Under Mr. Ayoub’s leadership, the organization has been recognized by The Chartis Group as one of the top 100 critical access hospitals for 2024.
Tamara Miller. CEO of Madison (S.D.) Regional Health System. Ms. Miller serves as the CEO of 22-bed Madison Regional Health System, a nonprofit, independent health system with 250 employees. She has worked at the system for 38 years, serving as CEO since 1996. Under her leadership, the critical access hospital moved to a larger facility in 2015. Ms. Miller serves on many boards, including the SD Association of Healthcare Organizations council on acute care.
Erica Peterson. Administrator and CEO at Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center and Pierre Clinic (S.D.). Ms. Peterson serves as administrator and CEO for rural hospital and clinic sites as part of the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health Network. Her prior experience in healthcare finance and firsthand knowledge from living on a ranch in the rural Midwest afford her unparalleled insight in strategically directing the operations of the facilities she oversees. These include a 25-bed critical access hospital, three clinics and a 44-bed long-term care facility. Prior to her role as administrator, Ms. Peterson served as CFO for Sanford Chamberlain for seven years, responsible for Medicare and Medicaid cost reports, statistical and financial analysis, and multi-departmental budgeting for the organization. She is a well-known and trusted member of her community, involved in local education and bringing important wellbeing programs to schools. She is an active board member of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations and Stockyards Ag Experience. She also serves as the Sanford liaison to Indian Health Services, which operates on Native American reservations. Ms. Peterson has also been instrumental in helping shape public policy around rural healthcare in the state, testifying on behalf of Sanford Health at the South Dakota State Legislature.
Veronica Schmidt. Administrator and CEO at Sanford Vermillion (S.D.) Medical Center. Since 2021, Ms. Schmidt has leveraged her expertise in operating critical access hospitals and long-term care facilities as CEO of Sanford Vermillion. She aims to grow services, programs and community partnerships within the medical center to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of the community. She oversees a critical access hospital, clinic, assisted living and long-term care facility. Under her leadership, the hospital earned recognition as one of the Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals” three years running. In addition, she was critical in adding 3-D mammography services to the hospital’s scope of care. Ms. Schmidt hosts bi-monthly “coffee and conversation” sessions, providing employees opportunities to hear from her and ask questions, and encouraging teams to adopt honest, open and willing methods for communication. She previously served Sanford Vermillion as director of ancillary services, as well as directing social work and mental health services for over 15 years. She also held executive roles for regional health systems in South Dakota and Nebraska and as an adjunct professor.
