By WKTV Staff
After less than three months on the job, the president of Exalta Health — a south Grand Rapids healthcare provider to persons regardless of their employment, health insurance and limited financial ability — has resigned and the organization will now be led by an interim president.
Exalta serves residents of both Wyoming and Kentwood.
Exalta Health announced early this month that former Byron Center School District superintendent Dan Takens, who took over as Exalta Health president in early February “decided last week that he needed to resign for personal reasons and the board reluctantly accepted that resignation.”
Takens replaced Bill Paxton, who had retired. Ed Postma, a member of the Exalta Health Board of Directors and a former chair of the board, will take over as interim president as the board enters a new search process, according to supplied material.
Postma worked at Amway for almost four decades in international contract compliance, risk management and international business development, and he is presently a consultant with Cross Creek Consulting.
“Even in the midst of COVID-19,” Postma said in supplied material, “when we have seen fewer patients in person, it has been clear to me and to many others how important Exalta Health is to a part of our population that is often ignored.
“Not just our medical and dental services, but our behavioral and spiritual care services have been a lifeline to many. People know we are here for them, and we plan for that message to continue to come through loud and clear in this time of transition too.”
According to supplied material, in 2019, Exalta Health served 1,099 medical patients, 1,210 dental patients and provided just over 9,000 total services. Staff at the facility includes a medical director, a dental director, social workers, a chaplain and a variety of administrative positions. It also relies on more than 100 medical, dental and other volunteers annually to provide its services.
About 17 percent of Exalta Health patients have insurance, of which most use Medicaid, meaning insurance is just 4.2 percent of its revenue. “The donor community, including businesses, individuals, churches and foundations, helps cover the gap between what services cost and what patients can pay,” according to the Exalta Health statement.
Exalta Heath is located at 2060 Division Ave S. For more information visit exaltahealth.org.
