PRMC administrator resigns after eight years

Staff report

Plains Regional Medical Center Administrator Hoyt Skabelund has resigned after eight years at the post, according to a news release from parent organization Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

Skabelund’s last day at PRMC will be July 18, the release said. Following his departure, Bo Beames, Presbyterian’s vice president for regional operations, will fill the role on an interim basis.

The release did not give a reason for Skabelund’s resignation or address his future.

Skabelund did not return a call seeking comment Monday.

“During his tenure, Skabelund has consistently focused on improving quality and service for patients at PRMC,” the release said. “Under his leadership, PRMC was recognized as a Top Performer by the Joint Commission in 2012 and 2013, the national accreditation agency for hospitals.

“In his time at PRMC, he has also helped to significantly reduce employee turnover and improve satisfaction among patients and employees.”

Skabelund became administrator for PRMC in June 2006. He joined Presbyterian in 1996 as an administrative fellow, according to the PRMC website. Before joining PRMC, he had several positions, including stints as administrator at Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari and as administrative director of healthcare management with Presbyterian and Kaseman hospitals in Albuquerque.

The release reported PRMC was the first of eight hospitals in the Presbyterian Healthcare Services system to implement an electronic health record under Skabelund’s direction.

“Hoyt’s focus has always been people and he has strived to lead PRMC to higher levels of quality and service for the patients we serve,” said Paul Briggs, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Presbyterian. “We are grateful for Hoyt’s leadership and service, and we wish him great success in the next step in his career.”