Fort Smith-based Sparks Health System said Friday that its interim chief executive, Tim Schmidt, has been taken out of consideration for the post after about two months on the job.
Spokesman Donna Bragg said in an email that the system's leadership and local board of directors collectively decided Thursday that Schmidt was not the best candidate. She said he is no longer employed by Sparks Health System, which includes the 492-bed Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith and the 103-bed Summit Medical Center in Van Buren.
Bragg declined to say why Schmidt was removed from the system's top job, saying the system does not comment on personnel issues. Jeremy Drinkwitz , chief operating officer, will serve as interim chief executive officer.
In the email Bragg said, "We remain committed to identifying a strong, skilled leader for Sparks Health System and Summit Medical Center -- someone who is an ideal match not only for our hospital teams but also for the communities we serve."
Schmidt was the fourth CEO for the system in a little over a year. Schmidt has 18 years of experience working in Community Health Systems Inc.-affiliated hospitals and most recently was CEO of Laredo Medical Center in Texas.
Schmidt was appointed interim chief executive in mid-March after Charles Stewart resigned. Stewart had taken over in September as CEO. Stewart replaced Fort Smith native Gary Blan, who took the health system's top job in March 2013 but resigned two months later. He replaced Melody Trimble, who had served as chief executive for the hospitals since 2009.
Sparks Health System was purchased by Community Health Systems as part of a $7.6 billion acquisition deal that closed in late January. Nashville-based Community Health Systems is now one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the U.S.
Business on 05/10/2014