White: This is right fit for me

SUTHERLAND-Chris White has held many jobs over the years.

From a police officer to an insurance adjuster to retail management.

But, it’s his current gig he likes the most.

The 42-year-old White took over as nursing home administrator at Sutherland Care Center on June 15.

It was perfect timing for the Sutherland resident, as he had just completed his online master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in health care management 10 days prior.

“I was going to Salt Lake City when I was called and offered the job,” White said. “I was like, ‘Well, I’ll be back on the 13th,’ which was a Saturday, and he asked if I could start that Monday. ‘I said sure.’ The timing couldn’t have gotten any better, really.”

His interested in being involved with the geriatric population was piqued when he began volunteering at a Golden Living nursing facility in Rapid City, SD.

“I just enjoyed working with the people and decided to go back to school to get my license,” he said.

Since doing so, White has been nothing but pleased.

“This is the right fit for me. I really enjoy the residents and the business aspect of it,” he said. “And, when I need a break, I can go out and play some bingo or play cards with the guys. It’s really nice.”

As the nursing home administrator, White takes responsibility for the residents receiving high-quality care, works with department heads to make sure certain needs are being met, addresses any concerns that arise from residents or residents’ families and keeps on top of state and federal regulations to insure the facility stays in compliance.

“Overall, I’m just in charge of the entire facility and make sure we’re providing everything we need to,” White said.

Since taking over duties from Jaime Dodd, the previous nursing home administrator, White has faced nothing but high expectations at Sutherland Care Center.

“It has a good history of taking care of people and having a good staff, and I really found that to be true,” he said. “They’re very dedicated to their jobs and to the residents. Hopefully, we can maintain that. That would be a great goal.”

Other goals White has for the facility include expanding services to residents in Larrabee, Peterson and Paullina and possibly opening up the therapy department to the general public.

“I just somehow want to give back to the community, because the community of Sutherland is really involved, and that’s a great thing,” White said. “It really supports the care center with a lot of volunteers.”


AT A GLANCE:
Name: Chris White
Position: Nursing home administrator at Sutherland Care Center
Start date: June 15
Age: 42
Residence: Sutherland
Education: Earned bachelor of business administration degree with a concentration in health care management from American InterContinental University, an online program based in Atlanta in 2005; earned health-care administration license in 2006; earned master of business administration degree with a concentration in health-care management from Stevens Henager College, an online program based in Salt Lake City in 2009
Family: Son, Benjamin, 13
Hobbies: Playing softball, reading, doing computer work, cooking

This article appeared in the July 25, 2009 edition of The South O'Brien Sun.