Western Medical Centers President Retires Early

United Western Medical Centers on Tuesday announced the early retirement of Wayne D. Schroeder, president for almost 21 years of the organization that operates three nonprofit community hospitals in Santa Ana and Anaheim.

Howard Marven, chairman of the board of United Western Medical Centers, said Schroeder, 54, asked to retire a week ago so that he could pursue other business ventures. His request was accepted by the board at its regular meeting Tuesday and was effective immediately.

Marven said he was surprised by Schroeder’s request. He said the unexpected and abrupt retirement did not reflect any friction between Schroeder and directors of United Western Medical Centers. Schroeder could not be reached for comment.

“Wayne is very well thought of by the board,” said Marven, who described Schroeder as a “workaholic” and “a human dynamo.”

Schroeder was also one of the more aggressive and controversial hospital administrators in the county.

He oversaw the expansion of United Western Medical Centers from a single hospital in Santa Ana to a three-hospital chain. He later developed Western Medical Center in Santa Ana into one of the county’s trauma centers and helped convert its original Santa Ana facility into a 241-bed hospital for the elderly.

Most recently Schroeder made waves when he refused to renew Medi-Cal contracts at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and Western Medical Center in Anaheim for the coming year because of inadequate government reimbursement. He said his hospitals ran up $25.2 million in Medi-Cal charges last year and collected about 25 cents on the dollar.

United Western Medical Centers said it recruited a temporary management team while it looks for a permanent successor to Schroeder.

Douglas L. Drumwright was named chief executive officer and Charles S. Mack Jr. was appointed chief operating officer and administrator of Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.