McNea fills as interim while CCH seeks permanent CEO

By Becky Uehling
Imperial Republican Correspondent
As Chase County Hospital continues its search for a permanent Chief Operating Officer (CEO), they have named retired Great Plains Health CEO Mel McNea as interim.
Originally from Bottineau, North Dakota, McNea has an extensive education and experience within the healthcare industry. McNea earned his undergraduate degree from Valley City State College in North Dakota, and a degree in Radiologic Technology from St. Luke’s School of Medicine in North Dakota. He then went on to earn his Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Starting in 1988, McNea began working for Great Plains Health in North Platte, eventually filling the positions of Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Chief Operating Officer, and eventually CEO, which he held for seven years. After retiring in 2021, he served as interim CEO at Regional West in Scottsbluff for two years as they searched for a new CEO.
McNea will serve as interim CEO as CCH seeks to fill the position left open when former CEO Abby Cyboron stepped down to reaccept the role of Chief Financial Officer, a position that she had previously held. McNea stated he will continue in the position until a permanent replacement can be found.  
 As interim, McNea said his goals are to provide leadership and ensure access to quality care for rural Nebraska.
While CEO I will “evaluate the current culture of the organization and make positive improvements,” McNea said. “CCH is an important part of the community, and I want citizens of Chase County to know the high level of services performed at their community hospital.”
McNea said there are several positives present at CCH. “CCH has an experienced staff with great knowledge and experience in providing healthcare,” he said. “The organization has been successful in recruiting providers that are patient centric and I’m excited to be part of the community.”   
McNea said there are a fair number of hospitals in the State of Nebraska struggling financially since Covid, but that it is essential to retain smaller critical access hospitals as they are important in maintaining the health of the community.
“Our elderly population is unable to travel long distances for care, so we must be vigilant financially and provide quality care to ensure they are treated locally,” McNea said. “The future for CCH is bright if we continue to work as a team, meet the expectations of our patients, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.”
Those who have questions for McNea are encouraged to call the hospital at 308-882-7111, or email him at mmcnea@chasecountyhospital.com.