The Coffey Health System Board of Trustees appointed Joben Rieth as chief executive officer during the January 24 monthly meeting.
Since August, Rieth has served as the interim chief nursing officer at Coffey County Hospital in Burlington. In November, he was named interim CEO and has since held both positions.
“The Board of Trustees has seen the direction, professionalism, and leadership Joben Rieth has brought to Coffey Health System since he came in August,” said Board Chair Rosemary Rich. “We are very pleased he has agreed to remain in the permanent position of CEO and feel these traits—along with strong staff support and being an active partner in community collaborations—will continue to make our health system stronger.”
Rieth has an extensive background in healthcare leadership. He was Chief Operating Officer for two Centura Health hospitals: St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City and Bob Wilson Medical Center in Ulysses. He also served in leadership positions at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Texas, Saint Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, and Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton, Oklahoma.
“I came to Coffey Health System in August to temporarily lend a hand,” Rieth said, “but then I got to know the remarkable people. It’s rare to find a team so committed to caring for the community—and a community so loyal to its hospital.”
In addition to being a registered nurse, Rieth holds a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Nazarene University. He has served on multiple boards within the Kansas Hospital Association and in community-level organizations in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Rieth plans to bring that same level of involvement to CHS.
“Even in the depths of a pandemic, there is a spark here that keeps us moving forward. We’re developing new services and building community partnerships and I want to be a part of that future.”