MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Hospital board members are doing additional background checks on one of two candidates for the position of interim chief executive officer.

The Columbia Basin Herald incorrectly reported Monday that the board decided to offer a contract to one of the candidates. But board member Julie Weisenberg said the board reviewed the feedback received from interviews with both candidates, and decided to conduct additional background checks on one candidate.

The person hired will replace Andrew Bair, who resigned after some doctors on the medical staff gave him a vote of no-confidence in June. Bair's resignation becomes effective Aug. 7.

"At this point, it's hard to say" if the hospital will have an interim in place by Aug. 7, Weisenberg said.

The search for the permanent replacement for Bair hasn't begun yet, Weisenberg said, since board members are focused on the search for the interim.