Stephens Co. Hospital Chooses Next Administrator

Stephens County Hospital has its next administrator lined up.

Monday, the Stephens County Hospital Authority unanimously approved the hire of Lynne Anderson as the next hospital administrator pending finalization of contract details.

Anderson will replace Ed Gambrell, who is retiring at the end of the year.

She comes to Stephens County Hospital from Amsol, an anesthesia management company with 26 practices in 8 states, handling operational responsibilities.

An Americus, Georgia native, she has also worked in hospital administration and healthcare leadership, spending 15 years at Columbus Regional Health System in Columbus, Georgia and nine years at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer.

Anderson graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.

She said she is excited to get back into hospital administration, where she feels she can be more impactful in the health care industry.

“I liked the idea of getting back into a small town,” said Anderson. “I grew up in a small town. I know how important local health care is so I pursued that.”

Anderson went on to say that she feels she appreciates the importance of local health care to a community like Stephens County.

“I really liked what I saw in Toccoa with the hospital, the personal care homes, the wound care center, and I feel like I will be able to continue that tradition that you all have had with great health care in this community that Ed (Gambrell) and others have started,” said Anderson.

Stephens County Hospital Authority Chairman Mark Wilkinson said Anderson was chosen from a group of very qualified candidates.

Wilkinson said he is proud to have Anderson join the hospital’s team.

“We are excited about having Lynne,” said Wilkinson. “Her qualifications speak for themselves. She has a lot of experience in the health care industry and we are looking forward to seeing what she can do. I know she is going to do a good job.”

Anderson will start on August 1 working with Gambrell in a transitional role.

She said she is excited to work with him and set up a smooth transition as he retires.

As far as goals, she said she wants to take the first 90 days or so to meet the employees and the community and assess the situation before deciding where to go from there.

That said, she does feel that healthcare faces a lot of challenges in the years ahead.

Those challenges include declining reimbursements for services, as well as an increased demand for technology and outpatient services.