SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. Regional West Health Services announced today that Carol Ann Kraus, MHS, has been appointed chief executive officer at Garden County Health Services. Kraus will begin her duties on Monday, February 11.

The decision was made with input from the Garden County Health Services Board of Directors. As part of the existing management agreement between Regional West and Garden County Hospital, two members of the Garden County Health Services Board of Directors served on the CEO Search Committee.

Kraus is a resident of Brule, Nebraska and has over 31 years of health care administration experience. Kraus served as the CEO of Perkins County Health Services from 1997 through June of 2006.

Kraus holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in health care administration from Wichita State University.

Kraus has four grown children and six grandchildren. She will commute from Brule to Oshkosh.

“We are very excited about this appointment,” said Jim McHugh, current interim CEO at Garden County Hospital. “Carol has excellent qualifications, a solid background and is very familiar with the area. She’s a great fit and has a lot of the qualities we were looking for to lead the growth of Garden County Health Services.”

Hospital employees were notified last evening.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,400 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.