By Carol Stiffler
Helen Newberry Joy Hospital (HNJH) has a new CEO, and she’s got just the right name for the job: Helen.
Helen Johnson, RN, FACHE (Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives), was selected to replace former HNJH CEO Hunter Nostrant. Nostrant departed the hospital for MyMichigan Health Care in Alpena. He and Johnson overlapped at the post for a few weeks to help her settle in; his last day was August 30.
Johnson has a long history with Luce County. Her sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Bryan DeAugustine–both of whom worked for Tahquamenon Area Schools–once lived here. She’s comfortable with U.P. winters and loves getting outdoors. Her husband of 30 years, Ben, works for the state of Michigan. She and Ben have two grown children, Ben and Lauryn.
She’s been working in the healthcare field since age 18 and is a former oncology and hospice nurse — work she loved. Johnson was president of Sparrow Eaton Hospital in Charlotte, Michigan, before making her way to Newberry.
Johnson plans to stay in the position for a while and asserts that HNJH intends to remain an independent facility. The hospital will still collaborate with other institutions for some benefits, like access to the Epic medical records system.
“We can be partial about our partners,” she said. “If you’re independent you can make those decisions.”
The hospital is financially sound, she said, and is still in a growth spurt. “The State of Michigan and USDA have invested in us,” Johnson said. “They see our services as crucial to the community.”
Johnson begins her time at HNJH in the midst of a massive construction project. The Gibson Clinic will soon be relocating into a temporary trailer network in the northwestern parking lot so work can be done in the clinic.
She is intent on establishing warm relationships with hospital administration and staff. “I have a very open door,” Johnson said. “I look forward to collaborating with them.”
Johnson knows she will be helping create the environment people work in.
“I take care of the people who take care of our people. I take that responsibility very seriously,” she said. “I look at this from a caregiver’s heart. At the end of the day for me, it’s all about taking care of people.”
She looks forward to connecting with students at local schools to inspire some to work at their local hospital one day. “There are young people that think Luce County is great,” she said. “How can we partner with them?”
A public meet-and-greet event will be held at a future date so people can get to know Johnson.
