After 38 years with Pullman (Wash.) Regional Hospital, Steve Febus is retiring from his role as CFO, capping a career marked by steady growth at the facility.
Mr. Febus began his career at Pullman Regional as a staff accountant, and gradually worked his way up to roles like controller, director of revenue cycle and fiscal, and finally CFO. During his time with the hospital, he helped it grow from a small team to a full-scale hospital operating 16 clinics with nearly 700 employees.
“I think any transition is always mixed emotionally, but mainly because of the fact that you have so many long standing relationships with people,” Mr. Febus told Becker’s. “It’s always been about the people. That’s probably the hardest thing that goes through my mind … but bottom line, I’ve been blessed. You don’t work 38 years at an organization and not feel what a privilege it’s been to actually do what I’ve been able to do and work with the people I’ve been able to work with.”
Mr. Febus said one of his proudest accomplishments at Pullman Regional was mentoring an imaging technician at the hospital, who eventually worked his way up to assistant CFO and is now the CFO of another hospital in eastern Washington.
“He went into a hospital in which that CFO had been there 39 years, and he’s making an impact Day 1,” Mr. Febus said. “That, to me, is probably the highest achievement I could have ever accomplished.”
When asked what kept him at Pullman Regional for so long, Mr. Febus credited resilience and opportunity at the facility. He added that while adapting to changes in leadership and the evolving healthcare environment was challenging at times, it helped shape him as a forward-thinking and strategic leader.
With Mr. Febus retiring in January, Pullman Regional has begun conducting a nationwide search for a new CFO. Mr. Febus offered advice to not only his future successor, but to the finance leader of tomorrow.
“Don’t fight change, embrace it,” he said. “Figure out a way to make the changes ahead be visionary.”
Even in retirement, Mr. Febus joked that he might not entirely be done with healthcare, and will remain a “recovering CFO.” With nearly four decades of industry experience under his belt, Mr. Febus plans to share his knowledge.
“I will likely find myself out there trying to help other hospitals be better,” he said. “Really [finding ways] to train up that next generation. That’s my passion.”
