Chairman who steered JPS through time of change is stepping down

By ANTHONY SPANGLER

aspangler@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH — Steve Montgomery will step down as chairman of the JPS Health Network after leading the public hospital district through one of its most tumultuous times, including overseeing the ousting of a chief executive and the hiring of a new one.

As chairman, he also oversaw the hiring of a new chief financial officer and chief nursing officer and the reorganization of the hospital board. He is credited with helping shift the JPS culture from a focus on financial success to patient, employee and physician satisfaction.

A new slate of officers was announced Thursday. Board member Scott Fisher will replace Thompson as chairman. Trent Petty will become vice chairman and Tonya Veasey will be secretary. The new officers take their posts Jan. 1.

"I think it’s a very dynamic team with a very diverse skill set and one that has passion for the mission here at JPS," board member Dan Serna said.

Time to move on

Montgomery is an active Democrat who was appointed to the JPS board nine years ago by Tarrant County Commissioner Glen Whitley, now the county judge. Montgomery said that he is sad to leave the board but that he stayed beyond the usual eight-year limit because he was chairman during JPS’ leadership changes. He will focus on running his computer technology business and completing a master’s in business administration.

"It’s unfortunate that I’m stepping down, because tenure helps," he said. "You finally figure things out over time. But I’m leaving the board with some strong members who are asking really tough questions."

Commissioner Roy C. Brooks referred to Montgomery as a "firm hand on the rudder" guiding JPS "through turbulent waters."

"I think he did a phenomenal job. He came in at a time when the organization was in a state of transition," Brooks said. "He calmed things down and got people talking with each other and focused on what was good for the hospital district and good for the people of Tarrant County."

Brooks said Montgomery’s leadership helped re-establish relationships with key JPS partners, such as the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Physicians and administrators with the center, which contracts with JPS to run many of its clinics, praise Montgomery’s leadership.

"I believe Steve Montgomery is an outstanding individual and is recognized as a dedicated leader in the JPS system and has made a positive impact on coordinating healthcare delivery in the community," said Dr. Scott Ransom, president of the center.

More transparency

Montgomery chaired an officer selection panel that included board members Petty, Veasey and Bruce Capehart.

Fisher was appointed to the JPS board in 2005 by Whitley. Fisher, a Nazarene minister and former secretary of the Texas Christian Coalition, was also recently appointed chairman of the Texas Youth Commission.

In previous discussions about JPS providing subsidized healthcare to illegal immigrants, Fisher has supported the district’s policy of not paying for anything but emergency care, which is required by federal law.

Political insiders say JPS is unlikely to open its clinic-based care to illegal immigrants as long as the Commissioners Court has a Republican majority. Commissioners approve the district’s budget and tax rate.

As the new chairman, Fisher said, he will follow through on changes that aim to increase access to healthcare and provide more transparency on JPS governance.

"We need to build confidence in our employees, patients and our community," Fisher said. "I think in four years we will look back and see we made some very tough decisions that benefited the citizens of Tarrant County."

In other business, the JPS board approved a resolution this week that will ask commissioners to exempt the hospital district from participating in tax increment financing districts, which use property tax revenue to build infrastructure for development projects.

The resolution also recommends that commissioners review and vote on the tax zones since they already have final say on whether the hospital district participates.

ANTHONY SPANGLER, 817-390-7420

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