Jay Kreuzer, who retired as Kona CEO of Kona and Kohala hospitals, in 2019 is back at the helm again.
“On Friday, April 3, the HHSC West Hawaii Region Board of Directors appointed Jay Kreuzer into the role of Acting CEO of the West Hawaii region, which includes Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital,” said hospital spokesperson Judy Donovan through a press release issued Saturday. “Frank Sayre, DDS and West Hawaii Region Board Chair said the decision to have Kreuzer step into the Acting CEO role provides seamless coverage for the Region, which is crucial during the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
When Kreuzer announced his retirement plans in March 2019 to be effective at the end of the year, the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. West Hawaii Region Board of Directors hired executive search firm Quick Leonard Kieffer to conduct a leadership search for the top position. In December, the board announced they selected Anna Chiotti as the new CEO effective Jan. 2.
Chiotti has over 30 years of health care leadership experience, the news release announcing her hire stated.
However after only two months on the job, the hospital announced Chiotti was on leave, and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation CEO Linda Rosen, MD, was named acting CEO in Chiotti’s absence, Donovan said. The spokeswoman was unable to answer further questions in March as to the duration of Chiotti’s leave or the reason for it.
They were also unable to comment why Kreuzer was brought back to his former job, replacing Rosen. No update was available for the status of Chiotti.
Kreuzer joined the West Hawaii Region and Kona Community Hospital in March 2011 as regional chief executive officer.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kreuzer came to West Hawaii from Chicago where he held the position of executive vice president of Resurrection Health Care, a nonprofit health system. Concurrently, he was the CEO for West Suburban Medical Center. He also served as president of St. Francis Hospital and Health System, which ranked in the top 100 hospitals nationally. He also served as the president of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in rural Southern Illinois
“Jay’s leadership and guidance have been invaluable,” board chair, Frank Sayre, DDS, said in a press release at the announcement of his retirement. “His healthcare knowledge and experience have elevated the Region’s services and delivery of care to our community. I speak for the entire Board of Directors when I say that we appreciate his contributions to Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region.”
Kreuzer’s retirement capped an eight-year tenure leading the strategic direction of Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region. During that time, he was instrumental in bringing financial stability and strategic growth to the West Hawaii Region.