Marianna Optimist Club Activities

Optimist-Outlook
By Don Jones - February 24, 2009

"Working Smarter, Not Harder"
Richard McConahy, Speaks

Richard (Dick) McConahy, Jackson Hospital’s ‘Interim’ Chief Executive Officer for the past two months, spoke before the Marianna Optimist Club. He was introduced by Rosie Smith, below. Rosie is Jackson Hospital’s Director of Public Relations. Before commencing his talk, he said that he and his family have been enjoying their stay in Marianna. Also, he took the opportunity to thank Mr. Bob Pforte, who was in the audience, for his hospitality and use of his, well stocked, fishing pond over the last 60 days. He said that fishing is his favorite sport because it can be done in the prone position, and with eyes closed.
He then gave a little background information concerning his education and where he hailed from. He is married to his wonderful wife, Diane, and they have two grown children, one of which is getting married soon, his son. They hail form the Midwest where McConahy attended High School, and later College. He, then, began to explain how he became involved in the medical profession; he became an army medic during the Vietnam War and served in Vietnam in 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania State University, State College, and a Master of Science in Health Care Management from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. He is, employed by the Quorum Health Resources (QHR) Group, but is assigned as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Administrator for Jackson Hospital.
The QHR Group has been in the business of helping independent and group hospitals survive through rough times for over thirty years. Fortunately, he said, "in this regard, Jackson County has several things going for it, i.e. A top 100 rated hospital, the Chipola College’s Nursing Program, the exceptional recreational facilities and parks, such as Optimist Park, and the comparatively, lower cost of living. For these reasons many student doctors from Jackson County have returned to set-up their practices here. However, we need to attract more doctors to our area. Each doctor’s office is a place of business and provides a necessary service for the health of the community and the income for the wealth of the community."
Sadly, however, McConahy must find a permanent replacement for himself, as he is only the ‘Interim’ Chief Executive Officer. This will not be an easy pill, pardon the pun, for the community to swallow; he and his family have already wormed their way into everyone’s heart.