Bill Patten, CEO at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, has resigned his position at the hospital.

Patten, who has been the hospital’s top administrator since 2005, tendered his resignation to the SJLH Board of Trustees, which it has accepted.

Patten’s last day is Feb. 1.

It was under Patten’s leadership the hospital has seen significant growth. During a Nov. 7 interview, Patten told The Western News the hospital was in the final throes of the paperwork necessary for the $35 million project of its new 77,000-square-foot facility.

Patten is leaving St. John’s to assume the CEO duties at Powell Valley Healthcare in Powell, Wyo.

Kathy Nelson, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, said the board is grateful for Patten’s years of service to the hospital, and it wishes him well in his new position.

Calls for further comment to Patten and Nelson were not returned or went unanswered.

St. John’s Lutheran Board of Trustees has appointed John N. Schwartz to serve as the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is hired.

The board plans to conduct a national serch and the details of that search process are currently being developed.

The board is confident that, working with the assistance of Schwartz, the current administrative, management and medical staff teams will work in partnership to provide uninterrupted, high-quality healthcare services throughout the transition.

In addition, the board plans to continue its efforts to secure HUD financing for the new hospital, an task Patten worked diligently.

St. John’s Hospital currently includes 56,000 square feet. The new facility would add another 77,000.

St. John’s is a critical access, not-for-profit, community 25-bed hospital. The hospital has been serving south Lincoln County for more than 50 years.

The hospital employs about 240 persons and has 18 physicians on staff.