Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Ask the editors - May 7

I read in the newspaper that Jorge Cruz is leaving as the Clovis hospital’s chief executive and Presbyterian Healthcare Services is sending an interim administrator. But what is the long-term plan for our hospital and its leadership?

Presbyterian Healthcare Services owns Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

At the end of April, Presbyterian’s Vice President of Regional Delivery System Operations Noah Knisely announced Cruz, PRMC’s chief executive, decided to step away from his role. Cruz’s last day will be May 26. Requests for comment from Cruz have not been answered.

“Jorge has made a significant, positive impact over his more than 20 years with PRMC, starting as a traveling nurse on a temporary assignment to ultimately stepping in to lead this facility through the immense challenges of the pandemic,” Knisely wrote in a statement.

Knisely said Cruz is regarded as a committed and caring leader who built strong partnerships in the community.

“We will immediately begin a search for a new hospital chief executive, in partnership with our Board of Trustees,” Knisely wrote.

Knisley wrote that the typical process is to have an interim chief executive in place as soon as possible while hospital officials begin a search for a permanent replacement. After May 26, Knisely will be interim hospital chief executive at PRMC.

“Hospital chief executives, who are responsible for managing operations, staff and strategy, are selected through an extensive interview process that includes our local Board of Trustees,” Knisley wrote.

As for how long it will take to find a replacement for Cruz, Knisley said it’s more about finding the right person versus setting a specified time.

“We expect to move forward as quickly as we can,” Knisley said. “It is difficult to put a time frame on this process because we are committed to finding the right candidate.”

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