In September, Bartlett Regional Hospital announced a pair of resignations. In October, Jerel Humphrey stepped in as the interim CEO. He is the fourth chief executive officer — and the third person to hold the position on an interim basis at the hospital this year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

In September, Bartlett Regional Hospital announced a pair of resignations. In October, Jerel Humphrey stepped in as the interim CEO. He is the fourth chief executive officer — and the third person to hold the position on an interim basis at the hospital this year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Interim CEO: ‘Incredibly dedicated hospital staff works through pandemic stressors’

Humphrey not sure how long he will stay on job

Following a flurry of unexpected resignations at Bartlett Regional Hospital earlier this year, the hospital’s Board of Directors named Jerel Humphrey as interim Chief Executive Officer in early October.

Four weeks after putting his boots on the ground, Humphrey said his top priority is meeting the region’s health care needs and helping the staff recover from the enormous stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of health care is facing challenges right now and BRH is no exception,” he told the Empire in a Thursday afternoon phone interview.

For the last 10 years, Humphrey has worked at hospitals around the country, stepping in to serve on an interim basis. He said he’s happy to bring his 35 years of health care experience to Bartlett.

Originally from southern Indiana, Humphrey has worked at hospitals in Texas, Florida, Ohio and Virginia.

“I like the opportunity to help hospitals in transition,” he said. “I enjoy learning about the programs provided in different settings.”

[Cruise critics reflect on shortened season]

Humphrey said he had never been to Juneau or Alaska before taking the job and that the opportunity to learn more about the community and the region was one of the reasons he found the position appealing. He said that he’s looking forward to hosting his wife and three grown children in Juneau during his tenure so they can get a glimpse of the area.

Humphrey is the fourth chief executive officer — and the third person to hold the position on an interim basis at the hospital this year.

Humphrey replaced Kathy Callahan, who came out of retirement to temporarily serve as interim CEO after the abrupt resignation of Rose Lawhorne last month. Callahan’s last day was Oct. 25.

Lawhorne was named to the position permanently earlier this year and resigned in September amid news of an inappropriate personal relationship with a subordinate staff member, violating city policy.

Before Lawhorne took the job, chief financial officer Kevin Benson served as interim CEO after Chuck Bill retired.

Humphrey said he doesn’t know how long he will be in the role.

“I approach all of these assignments as if they are permanent,” he said. “It’s pretty open-ended.”

Humphrey said the plan is to transition out of the CEO role once the board selects a new leader.

“It’s not clear to me how long that will take,” he said, pointing out that the holiday season is not usually conducive to the hiring process.

[With demand up, foodbank hopes for successful drive]

Challenges

Humphrey said that all health care services and the people who work in health care are under stress due to the pandemic.

“The stress of COVID-19 is the main thing. It’s enormously draining. We are doing everything we can to relieve the strain on the staff,” he said, pointing out that the pandemic is ebbing somewhat.

Humphrey said that 10 federal workers from the Disaster Medical Assistance Team are onsite at the hospital and regularly working 60-hour weeks as nurses and surgical techs to help relieve strain on the staff. The workers will remain at Bartlett Regional Hospital through Jan. 18.

Humphrey said that COVID-19 has challenged the health care system. But, that the hospital is committed to meeting the needs of Southeast Alaska now and in the future. He said that in the long run, that might mean new programming and new physicians.

Humphrey said that despite the stress of COVID-19, everyone at Bartlett Regional Hospital — from the medical team to the cleaning crew to the foodservice staff — is committed to the welfare of the patients.

“The employees here are incredibly dedicated to this community and I am very proud of them,” he said. “They are committed to providing care and are gonna grind it out and put all this COVID stuff behind us.”

• Contact reporter Dana Zigmund at dana.zigmund@juneauempire.com or 907-308-4891.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast for the week of March 25

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, March 26, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The aging Tustumena ferry, long designated for replacement, arrives in Homer after spending the day in Seldovia in this 2010 photo. (Homer News file photo)
Feds OK most of state’s revised transportation plan, but ferry and other projects again rejected

Governor’s use of ferry revenue instead of state funds to match federal grants a sticking point.

The Shopper’s Lot is among two of downtown Juneau’s three per-hour parking lots where the cash payments boxes are missing due to vandalism this winter. But as of Wednesday people can use the free ParkSmarter app to make payments by phone. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pay-by-phone parking for downtown Juneau debuts with few reported complaints

App for hourly lots part of series of technology upgrades coming to city’s parking facilities.

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

Annauk Olin, holding her daugher Tulġuna T’aas Olin, and Rochelle Adams pose on March 20, 2024, after giving a presentation on language at the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Juneau. The two, who work together at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group’s Language Access program, hope to compile an Indigenous environmental glossary. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Project seeks to gather Alaska environmental knowledge embedded in Indigenous languages

In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, the word… Continue reading

The room where the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee holds its meeting sits empty on Tuesday. A presentation about an increase in the number of inmate deaths in state custody was abruptly canceled here. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Republican lawmakers shut down legislative hearing about deaths in Alaska prisons

Former commissioner: “All this will do, is it will continue to inflame passions of advocacy groups.”

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, March 25, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Employees at the Kensington Mine removing tailings from Johnson Creek on Feb. 17 following a Jan. 31 spill of about 105,000 gallons of slurry from the mine, although a report by the mine’s owners states about half slurry reached the creek 430 meters away. (Photo from report by Coeur Alaska)
Emergency fisheries assessments sought after 105,000-gallon tailings spill at Kensington Mine

Company says Jan. 31 spill poses no risk to Berners Bay habitat, but NOAA seeks federal evaluation.

Most Read