New CEO tabbed for Banner Churchill

A Utah native with more than 17 years of health care leadership experience has been named chief executive officer of Fallon’s Banner Churchill Community Hospital.

Hoyt Skabelund will join Banner Churchill in August, replacing John D’Angelo who transitioned in Banner Health to open a new hospital for the system in Fort Collins, Colo.

Jim Ferando, Banner Health Western Region president, worked with Skabelund at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico and welcomed the opportunity to bring him into Banner Health.

“Hoyt has a lot to offer Fallon and will work to continue the successful relationships with the community and among the staff that John built during his time here,” Ferando said.

Skabelund comes to Fallon from Clovis, N.M,, where he served as administrator for the 106-bed Plains Regional Medical Center, which is part of Presbyterian. He was there for eight years and managed more than 483 employees including 23 employed physicians and an $84-million expense budget. During his tenure, the hospital was named 2009 Large Business of the Year by the Clovis Chamber of Commerce.

After Ferando moved from Presbyterian to Banner Health in 2006, Skabelund said he started to learn more about Banner.

“I could see Jim was happy and that piqued my interest,” he said. “I feel I’m ready for new opportunities and growth and this was a good time for my family.”

Skabelund and his wife, Carmen, have a 20-year-old son, Wayne, and a 15-year-old daughter, Whitney.

Growing up in Idaho and Utah, Skabelund said he enjoys living in a smaller community. He cited many similarities between Clovis and Fallon including being located next to a military base as well as being surrounded by agriculture. In Clovis, he was named honorary commander by the Medical Group at Cannon Air Force Base.

Skabelund said Banner Churchill surveys show excellent patient satisfaction and employee engagement scores. He also looks forward to working with the medical staff.

“The facility is incredible. It’s an attractive campus,” Skabelund said. “I’m excited about their positive culture and morale. The staff is always making sure patients have an excellent experience while they are there.”

Prior to working in Clovis, Skabelund was the administrator for 24-bed Socorro General Hospital in Socorro, N.M., and administrator for the 25-bed Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, N.M. Both are Presbyterian Healthcare System facilities. He has extensive experience in health information management.

Skabelund received his master’s in health care administration and master’s in business administration from the University of Minnesota and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Utah State University and is a Certified Management Accountant.