Hospital CEO announces new job during town hall

Ash Gokli will be leaving his position as chief executive officer of Memorial Hospital in Los Banos.

The announcement came during a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Los Banos Community Center that outlined the progress the rural facility has made in providing services to patients.

Gokli, who became the hospital’s CEO in March of 2014, has been named Sutter Health’s chief medical officer in the Central Valley. He said he may continue to serve as CEO in Los Banos for one to three months while Sutter finds a replacement.

“My bosses, they’re absolutely committed to continuing the journey,” Gokli said to an audience of about 60 people. “Success is defined by how well this community is doing. We absolutely believe the journey from good to great will continue.”

Gokli, 59, touted the hospital’s successes, such as receiving recognition by Sutter Health last year as being at the top in quality and safety.

Gokli also said the Los Banos hospital has been able to cut the number of patients being airlifted to other facilities by 40 percent by bringing in various specialists and networking with private practice doctors in Los Banos.

“I feel sad,” Gokli said. “Some of our community members have a misconception about this hospital. ‘If you have anything more than a laceration, go to another hospital,’ that’s what they say.”

Gokli said the hospital is working to bring in specialists, such as pulmonary doctors, to change that perception.

The hospital has added a digital mammography machine and, at the end of September, a mobile MRI machine will arrive. Memorial Hospital Los Banos is also anticipating having a state-of-the-art CT scanner by March.

During the meeting Gokli was asked about efforts to serve communities such as Santa Nella, plans to expand hospital facilities and emergency room care.

Many in Los Banos receive medical treatment out of town because they have health insurance not accepted by Sutter Health. Mayor Mike Villalta asked Gokli if Sutter could address the issue.

“We want patients to stay in this community because then the hospital survives,” Villalta told Gokli. “Sutter does not accept some of the insurances that the city offers. That’s going to be up to the two of us to make sure Sutter does start to accept some of these insurances. We would love to have Sutter accept every insurance.”

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Hospital CEO announces new job during town hall."