12 Oct Wallowa Memorial Hospital Welcomes New CFO
Dan Jessup joined Wallowa Memorial Hospital’s administrative team October 2 as our new Chief Financial Officer. Dan brings 30 years of hospital accounting expertise to Wallowa Memorial, with his most recent position at Silverton Health System, a 48-bed acute care facility. After Silverton became part of the Legacy Health system based in Portland, Jessup decided to make a change, because Legacy’s business model does not offer a chief financial officer position at individual hospitals. Jessup stayed through the transition before coming to Enterprise.
Like much of the health care industry, Jessup said hospitals are in a period of flux, especially where finances are concerned. “There’s a lot of uncertainty,” Jessup recently told the Wallowa County Chieftain. “It makes administration challenging but really interesting.”
Jessup has seen tremendous change in healthcare since his first hospital position in 1988. “Most of the advances are in technology,” he said. “A pacemaker used to be a three-day inpatient stay. Now it’s a morning appointment.” Jessup also mentioned the transition from dealing only with patients who have an immediate need to focusing on prevention, in an effort to keep people healthier and lower costs, as well as the creation of coordinated care organizations. CCOs as they are called, are networks of health care providers who work together in communities to serve people who receive health care coverage under the Oregon Health Plan. The program helps reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, which reduces costs. 
Jessup and his wife visited Wallowa County for the first time in August, and were impressed with the friendliness of the people and the abundant natural beauty of the area. They are both avid singers and were members of the Salem Community Chorus. Jessup and his wife have also participated in community theatre. With the many opportunities in Wallowa County to lend their singing and acting talents, the Jessups are sure to be welcomed warmly. Jessup and his wife have two grown daughters who reside in Portland.
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