Bryan Slaba, CEO of South Dakota’s Wagner Community Memorial Hospital - Avera (WCMH-A), recently received the American Hospital Association’s Rural Hospital Leadership Award for his achievements in local health outcomes.
Affiliated with the Wagner-based facility for 10 years, Slaba served as the hospital’s chief financial officer prior to becoming CEO in 2008. His leadership proved instrumental in expanding and improving the hospital, and he has invested in creating robust connections between Wagner and regional resources, according to an association press release.
Slaba facilitated a high level of communication between WCMH-A, Indian Health Services and the Yankton Sioux Tribe, culminating in the creation of a dialysis center and also instituted telemedicine and electronic health care portals, the release said.
In addition, he has served in civic positions and housing and development groups.
“Under his leadership, WCMH-A has been transformed from a small community hospital into one of the most technologically advanced critical access hospitals in the region,” the release said.
Slaba facilitated renovations resulting in the addition of a rehabilitation unit, a primary care clinic and an interim patient wing to house individuals while the building was under construction to upgrade radiology, laboratory and outpatient services.
