Jason Anglin officially took over as CEO of William Newton Hospital this week, bringing more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience to the Winfield hospital.
Anglin began Monday, succeeding Gigi Fergus, who served as interim CEO for the past year. The William Newton Hospital Board of Trustees selected Anglin following a search for the nonprofit critical-access hospital’s next permanent leader.
Anglin brings 32 years of healthcare executive experience, including about a decade as a chief financial officer and more than 20 years as a hospital CEO. His most recent position was CEO of Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville, Alabama.
That tenure was notably brief. Monroe County Hospital announced Anglin as its new CEO effective March 23 of this year, about five months before he began work at William Newton.
In announcing Anglin’s arrival, William Newton addressed the circumstances surrounding his short stay in Alabama. The hospital said Anglin had taken a career break following a period of personal loss before accepting the Monroe County position. He “soon realized” he wanted to be closer to family in the Midwest, according to William Newton, and viewed the Winfield opening as a natural fit.
Anglin’s broader employment history includes considerably longer tenures. Before going to Alabama, he served as CEO of Nevada Regional Medical Center in Missouri and previously spent 11 years leading Memorial Medical Center in Texas.
Anglin has purchased a home locally and plans to become involved in Winfield civic and service organizations, according to the hospital.
His arrival comes as William Newton continues efforts to strengthen its financial position and recruit healthcare providers.
During Fergus’ 12 months as interim CEO, the hospital said it made progress stabilizing its finances, improving quality and compliance protocols and emphasizing workforce training and development.
Finances will remain an early focus for Anglin. During his first 90 days, he plans to meet with employees throughout the hospital while conducting a detailed review of organizational finances in preparation for the upcoming fiscal year. He also plans to focus on improvements in accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Anglin has experience working with financially challenged hospitals. William Newton said he has helped guide five financial turnarounds during his career, overseen eight major construction projects and recruited more than 30 healthcare providers to rural and regional communities.
Provider recruitment will be another immediate priority at William Newton, with primary care, emergency medicine, OB/GYN, orthopedic surgery and anesthesia among the specialties targeted.
Anglin also plans to explore establishing dedicated pain-management services. Continue story below ad.
Over the next five years, Anglin said he wants to further establish William Newton as a regional healthcare hub for south-central Kansas.
“William Newton Hospital is uniquely positioned to serve as a strong regional facility,” Anglin said. “WNH stands out as the only hospital within a 45-minute radius operating a labor and delivery unit, and offering an on-site cardiac catheterization lab is exceptionally rare for a facility of our size.”
“We are vital to this region, and my goal is to build on that foundation,” he said.
Anglin earned his Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University.
William Newton credited Fergus with guiding the hospital through several strategic initiatives during her interim tenure, including efforts to stabilize finances, strengthen compliance and develop the hospital workforce.
