Everyone knew the day would come when Matt Heyn would leave Pawnee Valley Community Hospital.
Pawnee Valley’s administrator is leaving Larned after four years to work as chief executive officer at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa.
Heyn, 34, helped lay a solid foundation at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, which transformed from a underperforming facility to a state-of-the-art facility that exceeds $3 million revenue in a month.
Every day, Heyn’s calm, reassuring voice told every Pawnee Valley hospital employee how valuable they were.
One day at a time, the hospital marched toward’s Heyn’s professed goal and the hospital’s stated mission — “Pawnee Valley Community Hospital will be the best critical access hospital in rural America.”
The hospital employees delivered high-quality healthcare. Pawnee Valley earned zero deficiencies on a recent accreditation for life safety and clinical laboratory surveys.
During monthly meetings with Pawnee County commissioners, Heyn consistently delivered good news — a valuable piece of technology had been purchased or a quality employee was hired.
Hundreds of people contributed in their own unique way to Pawnee Valley Community Hospital.
When Pawnee County Commissioner John Haas mentioned Heyn’s name during Pawnee Valley’s dedication, Heyn was welcomed by a loudest ovation of the afternoon.
It was his servant-leadership and common-sense approach that has converted Pawnee Valley Community Hospital into an amazing financial success story. His job was broad-based, but detail-oriented.
Heyn felt compassion for Larned’s battle for quality healthcare. When he witnessed Larned’s passion to operate a locally-controlled hospital, it fit his dream and vision for locally-controlled healthcare.
When Heyn agreed to become the new administrator for Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in 2010, he made a full-time commitment.
Developing Pawnee Valley Community Hospital into a first-class facility developed into a personal challenge for Heyn, who knew first hand about Larned’s story from his work at CMKC.
Heyn served as vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend for two years prior to moving to Larned in 2010.
Catholic Health Initiatives, the parent company that owns CMKC, also previously directed operations for the former Larned hospital.
Larned and Pawnee County will miss Heyn, but will wish him well.
Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa is in good hands.

Jim Misunas