Health Center Administrator Here to Stay
Armstrong County Health Center Administrator Tom Parsons first came to Kittanning as an Affinity Health Services hire in February 2014, but is now employed through Armstrong County as of March 1.
by Jonathan Weaver
Even though a regional health management agency will no longer manage day-to-day operations at the Armstrong County Health Center in Kittanning, the administrator hired to oversee its care is still in Kittanning.
Tom Parsons, of Natrona Heights, was hired by Affinity in February 2014, but is now an Armstrong County employee as of March 1. He will remain as Health Center Administrator full-time.
Parsons, 57, said his approach will not change and the County Home will continue to be well-maintained.
“No steps backward – every step is forward,” Parsons said. “We want to keep everything the same and if nothing else, enhance it.
“The day-to-day operations (for me) still remain the same. Now instead of reporting to the County by way of Affinity, I just report to (them) directly.”
Affinity Health Services managed the Armstrong County Health Center since November 2013, and Parsons said the facility has “come a long way” after working together.
“Affinity is one of the better things I think happened to the facility,” Parsons said. “They brought in some excellent programs that we have to maintain and continue. They streamlined things and made things more efficient.”
Parsons did not foresee any new staff members hired to maintain those programs. Instead, Parsons will work with Nursing Administrators Beth Costanzo, Cindy Grafton and Karen Polka, along with County Executive Director of Administration Dan Lucovich – who he said he talks with daily.
“I don’t have the resources of Affinity, but with the management team that we have here and Mr. Lucovich we’ll be fine,” Parsons said.
At the beginning of February, County Commissioners Pat Fabian, George Skamai and Jason Renshaw unanimously agreed to restructure Affinity’s management agreement to save about $200,000.
Parsons and Lucovich said Affinity officials will still be utilized to consult on programs put in place, policies and procedures.
Lucovich said he and commissioners are confident Parsons is “more than capable” of managing the facility.
Local News | jweaver March 8, 2016
