BRHS replaces Chief Financial Officer | Eastern NC Now

    Beaufort Regional Health System has located an Interim Chief Financial Officer, Richard A. Reif, from Charlotte, announced BRHS Director of Marketing and Public Relations Pam Shadle in a news release yesterday afternoon. Reif will replace Chris Riggs, who resigned from the post, effective Sept. 10. Riggs accepted a position with New Hanover Regional Health Systems as CFO for Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw.

    Riggs' resignation came just three months after the ex-BRHS Chief Executive Officer Bill Bedsole resigned his post. Reif will be walking into a war zone, as BRHS books are expected to be in the red for three straight years: There was a $1.5 million loss in 2009, a reported loss of $1.8 million in 2010 and a predicted loss of $700,000 for 2011. The search for an affiliation partner is still underway. Healthcare Appraisers, Inc., is currently reviewing four bids, and is expected to submit a summarized report to BRHS within the next week, according to a timeline provided by Shadle.

    The new acting CEO, Susan Gerard, interviewed several CFO candidates and felt Reif would be the best fit. According to the news release, Reif, who most recently was Regional Associate Vice President and Financial Analyst for the Charlotte operations of Quorum Health Resources, has over 30 years experience in hospital financial operations. Throughout his career, Reif has served as a vice president of finance, chief financial officer, controller, analyst, consultant and auditor. He has experience in administrative and financial leadership positions in hospital settings and with multi-entity healthcare organizations.

    "Dick comes highly recommended and has a wealth of experience," said Gerard in the news release. "We are pleased to have someone with his level of expertise to join our BRHS team."

    Reif will be present at tomorrow's Special Joint Meeting of the BCMC Board of Trustees and the Board of Commissioners of Beaufort Regional Health System Authority, called by hospital board chairwoman Alice Mills Sadler, to discuss a resolution in regards to the employee pension plan and to review the CEO position.

    The next Cost Containment Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 a.m. in the Hospital Board Room.