Top-rated rural hospital makes patients its priority

Marilyn M. Sears, CPA, is the chief financial officer of Shelby Memorial Hospital, a 30-bed not-for-profit hospital operating in the central Illinois town of Shelbyville (pop. 5,000) and serving the 23,000 residents of Shelby County. Shelby Memorial has the distinction of having been named to the HCIA-Sachs 100 Top Hospitals list for the past two years. The 100 Top Hospitals list recognizes hospitals and their management teams that demonstrate superior clinical, operational, and financial performance. Sears assumed her position as Shelby Memorial's CFO in 1989. Prior to that she was part of a small, public accounting firm, Dochring Winders & Co., LLP, CPAs. Sears was responsible primarily for performing audit work with hospitals, universities, estates, and trusts.