Polenz Says Decision To Leave MMC Was Tough
Thursday, December 1st, 2011 -- 12:52 PM
Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville will be looking for a new CEO.After five years on the job, Scott Polenz announced this week that he?s taken a position at another facility. His last day at Memorial will be Wednesday, January 11th, 2012.
"It was very, very difficult. Probably one of the most difficult decisions I've made," Polenz said Thursday. "This is, by far, the best job I've had."
"I can get emotional just thinking about it."
Polenz, who lives south of Eau Claire in Eleva, has accepted a position as West & Northwest Division Administrator for Marshfield Clinic. The move will give him the opportunity to work closer to home.
"MMC is going in the right direction. Things are set for future success. We have a lot of good people here. I kind of started feeling things could go fine without me," he explained. "I can spend some more time with my wife and my daughter, which has been difficult to do the past five years."
It?s been a busy five years for Polenz, who led MMC through some major changes, including the sale of the nursing home that had been part of the organization for a half-century. The sale, while not popular with everyone, significantly improved MMC?s ledger, Polenz said.
MMC also opened Sunset Gardens Assisted Living, is transitioning to electronic health records and developed a five-year strategic plan.
But one of the biggest changes has been less tangible. "Something I'm most proud of is our employees get that our patient is the most important and they're the number one reason why we're here. They understand it's not about them, it's about the patient."
MMC has weathered a significant economic downturn, and has actually increased its workforce to around 250.
Polenz previously worked for Marshfield Clinic and Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. He replaced Glen Grady.
He plans to help the Board of Directors transition to a new administrator.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.