OCH Regional Medical Center CEO Richard Hilton announced his retirement Wednesday following more than three decades with the hospital.
Hilton has worked for 35 years with OCH, beginning his tenure as the hospital’s associate administrator/chief financial officer from March 1983 to February 2012. He’s served as the CEO since then.
Hilton, 69, told The Dispatch that when he interviewed for the CEO position, he told the board he would like to target age 70 for possible retirement, health allowing, and if it was at a time that wouldn’t negatively impact the hospital. He turns 70 next month.
“That timing is coming up,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger. I started talking to my board chairman in the later part of 2017, and said when I get into 2018, that would be when I like for the board to consider looking for a replacement. I submitted my letter to the board after the meeting in March, and they acted on it Tuesday.
“Now the trigger is pulled, and the process starts with them looking for a candidate they are comfortable with that can come in and take over the leadership role,” he added.
The OCH Board of Trustees will immediately begin searching for a new hospital administrator. Hilton has agreed to remain with the hospital as long as is needed to assist with the transition, per a hospital press release.
Hilton has 44 years of total medical experience. He said he is, overall, content with his time at the hospital, and recalled when he first agreed to come work at OCH under then CEO Arthur “Sonny” Kelly.
“I said I’ll agree to stay with you two years, and if we don’t like it, we’ll shake hands and there won’t be any hard feelings,” he said. “Thirty-five years later, and I’m still here.”
Hilton said he plans to spend more time with his family in retirement.
“This retirement will allow me to spend more quality time with my wife, La Rue, our seven children and 14 grandchildren,” Hilton said. “I am proud to be a part of the OCH family and my time here will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish the trustees, medical staff and employees continued success.”
A turbulent 18 months
The past 18 months for OCH has been hectic, with an unsuccessful effort by some Oktibbeha County supervisors to sell the hospital. Hilton said there was some stress involved in that process, but it didn’t weigh into his decision to retire.
“The board of trustees, as you know, was opposed to the sale,” Hilton said. “They wanted me to direct as much of my energy and efforts as possible to help keep the hospital under local control. That was a mandate for me. I wanted to work within the parameters of what we could do to tell our message to the public, for them to be informed as they went to go cast their votes.”
OCH has recently begun looking into affiliating with a larger hospital system, which would offer access to an exchange of resources while leaving the hospital under local control.
Hospital board chair Linda Breazeale, speaking to The Dispatch, lauded Hilton’s experience in the medical field and, particularly, his work as of late in helping guide OCH through turbulent times.
“Obviously, in the last year or so, he has been crucial in educating the board about issues related to the sale of the hospital and how he addressed that,” Breazeale said. “He put in countless hours preparing the response to potential sale of the hospital.
“The trustees have depended on his insights and knowledge of the healthcare industry as we considered issues related to a sale, or now, issues related to affiliation,” she added.
Hilton said, even if the board makes a decision on affiliation before a new CEO is selected, it will take time to implement the changes and policies required for the affiliation process. Should that happen, he said, it would be better for the next CEO to be involved in the process’ early phases.
“Obviously, as the new person comes on, the earlier they get involved in those decision-making processes, regarding implementation, targeting and all that, the better that would be,” he said.
OCH’s future
As Hilton reflected on his career, he said he feels the hospital is in a strong position — with the makeup of the Starkville and Oktibbeha County community, MSU’s proximity and economic growth in the area — to continue to grow.
“The hospital, on a go-forward basis with the makeup and mix of economic influence in the community, will always be here,” Hilton said. “… The medical staff is a key part of health care and we’ve got 55 doctors who will walk the halls of this hospital on any given day, and over 13 specialties provided. With that makeup, the hospital can go forward, and the affiliation just makes the assurity of that stronger.
“OCH is more than just the brick and mortar walls,” he later added. “What really defines the hospital is what’s within the walls, and the people and services provided.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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