FAIRMONT - After four years as chief administrator at Fairmont Medical Center, Stephen Pribyl has announced his resignation.
On Nov. 1, Pribyl will begin his duties as chief executive officer at District One Hospital in Faribault. He will continue as Fairmont Medical Center's chief administrator while the facility searches for his successor.
"There's always at least two reasons people move on to new opportunities," Pribyl said. "One is the professional side."
The position in Faribault presents a new challenge, he said.
The second reason, in his case, for moving on is family.
Pribyl and his wife were both raised in the Faribault area, and they still have elderly parents living there. The move will also place them closer to their grandchildren, who live on the southern edge of the Twin Cities.
"One reason we moved to Fairmont from Wisconsin was to cut the drive time in half to family, and this cuts it in half again," Pribyl said.
Dr. Greg Kutcher, president and CEO of Mayo Health System's western region, said the organization is sad to see Pribyl leave, but also happy for the new opportunity.
"We are committed to create a culture that fosters great leaders and encourages all providers and staff to further their education, experience and careers," Kutcher said.
In the four years Pribyl has been at Fairmont Medical Center, the facility has undergone many changes.
"I think that we - and that's not me alone, but 'we' as a team - have done a nice job of adding to our specialty care," Pribyl said, mentioning additions in surgery, urology, primary care, internal medicine and family practice.
The medical center has just opened two new off-site clinics, as well, he pointed out. The Clinic at Walmart and a facility in Swea City, Iowa.
"We've also brought new and advanced technology to campus, from upgrading imaging services, to MRIs, to CAT scans, to digital mammography," Pribyl said.
"Telemedicine" is another change, with online psychiatry visits now available through Fairmont Medical Center.
"We're actually having conversations about other opportunities for telemedicine," Pribyl said. "... Definitely the wave of the future is leveraging demand with convenient services, as well as looking at what specialties we bring in, in as innovative ways as possible."
Take for example the recently added dermatology clinics on Saturdays.
"We're looking at other specialties to add as weekend clinics," Pribyl said.
Especially pleasing to Pribyl is the popular "Speaking of Health" program, which was launched within his tenure. Columns written by Fairmont Medical Center staff cover health care topics that are printed in the Sentinel, and the authors then make a public presentation at the medical center and answer questions.
"We are providing education to the community, which is hopefully valuable information that can help them live better lives," Pribyl said.
