West Hawaii Region and Kona Community Hospital CEO Announces Retirement
April 02, 2019
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March 29, 2019 – Kealakekua, Hawaii – Jay Kreuzer will step down from his position as CEO of the West Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) effective year’s end, the organization announced this week. The West Hawaii Region Board of Directors has hired executive search firm Quick Leonard Kieffer to conduct a leadership search for the Region’s top position.
Kreuzer joined the West Hawaii Region (WHR) and Kona Community Hospital (KCH) 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 not-for-profit 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, DDC, said in prepared remarks. “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 will cap an 8-year tenure leading the strategic direction of Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region. During this time, he has been instrumental in bringing financial stability and strategic growth to the West Hawaii Region.
Kreuzer led the KCH management team’s nearly $40 million in capital investment projects. Highlights of these investments include:
In addition, from 2015 to present, hospital-wide renovations and expansions have modernized and updated various departments, infrastructure, parking and lighting.
"Although I’ll miss the fulfillment of this position, I’m confident with the leadership team at Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region. Their stewardship will continue to guide the future of the organization,” Kreuzer said.
About Kona Community Hospital. Founded in 1914, KCH is a 94-bed full-service acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency department recently designated as a Level III trauma center supporting the west region of the island of Hawaii. It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. It is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. KCH is dedicated to providing and enhancing accessible comprehensive healthcare services to the West Hawaii community.
About Kohala Hospital - Kohala Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with acute and long-term care
services and a 24-hour emergency room that supports the North Kohala community. It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. Its mission is to provide a healing environment to the community of North Kohala through the provision of quality health care services with emphasis on quality of life to all patients and residents.
Kreuzer joined the West Hawaii Region (WHR) and Kona Community Hospital (KCH) 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 not-for-profit 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, DDC, said in prepared remarks. “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 will cap an 8-year tenure leading the strategic direction of Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region. During this time, he has been instrumental in bringing financial stability and strategic growth to the West Hawaii Region.
Kreuzer led the KCH management team’s nearly $40 million in capital investment projects. Highlights of these investments include:
- Implementation of financial and operational improvement initiatives at KCH resulting in the hospital’s sustained financial stability.
- Launched the first Electronic Medical Record system within HHSC.
- Acquired 98% ownership of the Kona Ambulatory Surgery Center.
- Development of partnership with Alii Health Center to attract physicians and specialists to West Hawaii.
- Hospital-wide technology improvements including the installation of state of the art equipment: MRI, Wifi telemetry system, nuclear medicine camera and 128-slice CT scan, as well as a new linear accelerator.
In addition, from 2015 to present, hospital-wide renovations and expansions have modernized and updated various departments, infrastructure, parking and lighting.
"Although I’ll miss the fulfillment of this position, I’m confident with the leadership team at Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region. Their stewardship will continue to guide the future of the organization,” Kreuzer said.
About Kona Community Hospital. Founded in 1914, KCH is a 94-bed full-service acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency department recently designated as a Level III trauma center supporting the west region of the island of Hawaii. It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. It is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. KCH is dedicated to providing and enhancing accessible comprehensive healthcare services to the West Hawaii community.
About Kohala Hospital - Kohala Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with acute and long-term care
services and a 24-hour emergency room that supports the North Kohala community. It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. Its mission is to provide a healing environment to the community of North Kohala through the provision of quality health care services with emphasis on quality of life to all patients and residents.