City Hires President for Hospital TransitionCity Hires President for Hospital Transition In anticipation of the pending shift from Essentia Health to First Care Medical Services, the City of Fosston has appointed Callen Weispfennig as hospital president. Background of the Transition For the past 15 years, Essentia Health has operated the Fosston hospital. However, the closure of obstetrics services in 2022 prompted city officials to seek an end to the partnership agreement. The intention is to restore childbirth services and enlist First Care Medical Services to manage hospital operations. Weispfennig’s Experience Weispfennig, formerly the administrator at Essentia-Fosston, brings significant healthcare administration experience to the role. According to a press release, he is highly committed to community-based care. Future of the Hospital Pending arbitrator approval, Weispfennig’s hiring will facilitate the transition to First Care Medical Services. He will work under the City of Fosston until First Care Medical Services assumes operations, at which point he is expected to become a full-time administrator. The ultimate goal of this transition is to enhance healthcare services for the community and provide access to childbirth services in the future.
Callen Weispfennig (LinkedIn photo)
As part of their ongoing plans for the future of health care in their city and surrounding communities, city officials have hired a hospital president in preparation for the transition of Essentia Health’s operations.
The Fosston hospital has been run by Essentia Health for 15 years, but after Essentia closed its obstetrics services at the hospital in 2022, city officials wanted to end the partnership agreement with Essentia.
The hope is to bring childbirth back to the hospital in the future and switch to First Care Medical Services to administer services at the facility. An arbitrator could approve that change in the next few months.
Pending that decision, the Fosston City Council approved the hiring of Callen Weispfennig in preparation for the transition of hospital and clinic operations from Essentia Health to First Care Medical Services. According to a press release from the First Care Task Force, Weispfennig’s hiring will be under the City of Fosston until First Care Medical Services resumes operations, at which time he is expected to become a full-time administrator.
Weispfennig was the administrator at Essentia-Fosston until June of this year. The press release notes his extensive experience in health care administration and a deep commitment to community-based care.
