Rita K. Buurman has officially taken over her new duties as CEO of Clay County Medical Center.  She comes from Sabetha Community Hospital, Inc. in Sabetha, KS where she was a registered nurse and later served as nearly 30 years as Chief Executive Officer from 1978 until her retirement in 2008.  While in Sabetha, she was responsible for all departments of the 25 bed, acute care hospital. The facility provided skilled care under the Swing Bed Medicare program as well as acute care, Obstetrics and Surgical Services. Other duties included management of a Home Health Agency, Hospice, Foundation, a for-profit pharmacy and a hospital owned and operated physician clinic with 5 physicians, recruitment and retention of same.

Rita served on the Board of Trustees at the Kansas Hospital Association, was Board Chair and also served a past board Chair.  She has been a member of the Kansas Hospital Association of Healthcare Executives in Topeka, KS.  In 2006 she received the prestigious Charles S. Billings Award – an award given by the Kansas Hospital Association for lifetime achievement in healthcare.

Involved civically, she has been a Board Member of the Kiwanis Club, Sabetha, KS and a Board Member for Kanza Mental Health; Kanza Mental Health Agency, Hiawatha, KS. From 2001-2007 she was an American Hospital Association at Large Delegate for Region 6, National Office of Rural Health-Rural Issues Group.
After retirement, Rita travelled a year and in 2010, accepted an interim position in Kinsley, KS.  She followed that with an interim position in Stafford County Hospital, Stafford, KS and later in Concordia Community Health Center, Concordia, KS.

Her personal interests include theatre, music, travel, reading, movies, flowers, yard work, family and friends.  Rita has five grown children, 7 grandchildren, 2 stepdaughters, 4 step grandchildren.

We are excited to have Rita serve as Interim CEO for the hospital while the board focuses on a search for a permanent CEO.