Outgoing BVHS CEO: 'It has been the honor of my lifetime'

Scott Malaney spent more hours at work in the past year than at any time since he started as Blanchard Valley Health System CEO more than 20 years ago. Never, he said, did the exhausting world of helming a health care organization during a pandemic make him in a hurry to retire even sooner. Malaney, who just finished his last week as CEO, said over and over in an interview with The Courier that what he has valued most is everyone who works for the health system. He said the operative word is "we," as the health system works as a team. And getting to be part of this particular "we" has been really rewarding. Malaney was hired as president and CEO in 2000. Over the years, he said, those who work at Blanchard Valley must have gotten tired of him constantly asking what could be done to better the entire operation. "The success and failure is the people at the bedside," and front-line supervisors, "not willing to accept anything other than doing it right," he said. People are willing to put their heads together to address what needs to be done, he said. "I just feel so gosh darn blessed," he said. Over 20 years, there are a lot of memories. Malaney particularly recalls "the outpouring of support from the community" when the new hospital was built 13 years ago. The health system was able to raise more money than its consultants had anticipated, and built some new relationships along the way. Another moment that stood out was the opening of the Carey Medical Center in 2019. In addition to primary care, the medical center accommodates visits from specialists and offers X-rays, EKGs and other lab services. "That was a dream of that community" long before he arrived on the scene in 2000, Malaney said. And he remembers the day of the first open-heart procedure at Blanchard Valley. And when Dr. Gregory Gerschutzleft the Cleveland Clinic to come back to Hancock County to start a cardiology clinic, "It did change the face of our cardiology program." Another memory was a surgeon, Dr. Eric Browning, taking the time to go to a person's house to talk about cancer treatment options. "I mean, who does that anymore?" Malaney said. Malaney also remembers when EasternWoods opened, and specifically Birchaven. He said the health system has been able to work with great architects and he is "really proud" of the beautiful facility that was created. After Birchaven, they opened the EasternWoods Outpatient Center, then the Armes Family Cancer Care Center. Another proud moment was when Blanchard Valley found out it had been named a 100 Top Hospital. Then it happened again, and again. He said there was a huge "collective sense of satisfaction" among the team. "It takes an entire organization to make that happen," he said. They also received the Platinum Governor's Award for Excellence by The Partnership for Excellence. "Again, that's an effort of so many people." Malaney said he was determined that, as he got older, "I was absolutely not going to be the guy" who didn't realize it was time to retire until someone had to tap him on the shoulder and tell him. So, more than a year ago, he told the health system's board that he was planning to retire around this time. Then the pandemic hit. And, Malaney said, he was often working 70- or 80-hour weeks, spending more time at the hospital than at any time since he started 20 years ago. Still, he said, it will be hard to walk away. "I'm going to miss it terribly," he said. He said the past year was exhausting, but much more so for other people in the health system than for him. And, he said, "doing work that is intrinsically valuable to you as a person" has made a difference. He felt like what they were doing "really mattered," so there wasn't a day he felt eager to quit. Malaney, 67, said some colleagues have asked if he would be interested in working on particular projects in retirement. He's told them "maybe." Other retirement plans may eventually include some travel. In the immediate future, he expects incoming CEO Myron Lewis to ask for his help during the transition. Malaney said "there is nothing I want more" than for Lewis to be immediately very successful, as that will mean that Blanchard Valley is, too. "It has been the honor of my lifetime" to be part of this organization, Malaney said. "I had no idea, when I decided to come to Findlay," that this is what he would experience. He said he never planned to stay here for 20 years, but was able to work with "so many really tremendous people" who "do work that matters." And so, he said, he isn't leaving feeling that he just can't wait to retire. "I'm kind of glad that I'm not glad," he said.