A relatively easy transition is expected at Windsor Regional Hospital as an interim CEO steps into her role.
Karen Riddell has taken on the acting president and CEO roles at the hospital, after David Musyj was last week seconded to serve as the interim CEO for the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
Riddell was previously the hospital's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer.
Both Riddell and Musyj appeared on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday afternoon, with Riddell saying that since she and Musyj have worked together for a while, there was no need to rock the boat.
"We're both been at the hospital for a long time," said Riddell. "We've worked together for a long time. We have very similar priorities, and overall, I think our senior team, our directors, our staff, are all on."
The change in leadership, even though temporary, has come at a time of change for the hospital, as it moves forward with plans for the new regional acute-care facility.
"That's really my goal in this acting role to work with Dr. [Wassim] Saad [WRH Chief of Staff], to ensure that we keep on the trajectory that we're on," said Riddell. "We've got lots of great things happening at the hospital with the new hospital planning and the big capital project."
The hospital was also recently granted Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada.
While Riddell said she can't rule out making any changes in the operation while Musyj is working in London, the hospital's primary focus will be the same.
"It won't be that we're changing our focus as an organization. Our focus is always going to be our patients, our community," said Riddell. "We'll continue to work towards improving care for our community."
Musyj is taking over at LHSC amid turnover in its executive suites. The current CEO has been on medical leave, and the previous CEO had been fired.