The head of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield is stepping down to take a job in Washington State.
Maurine Cate is moving on to Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. She had accepted the same position last year, but reconsidered in order to concentrate on projects at McKenzie-Willamette. That includes launching an $80-million hospital expansion.
Cate has been CEO since 2007. She will stay on until late July. The search for a new CEO is underway.
McKenzie-Willamette has been in labor negotiations with support staff. The National Labor Relations Board issued an unfair labor practice complaint March 31st, saying the Springfield hospital had violated federal labor law.
According to the Northwest Labor Press, the hospital will face a hearing before a federal administrative law judge July 8th.
