A woman credited with being an advocate in keeping the VA inpatient hospital in Fort Wayne retired from her leadership position earlier this month.

Cathi Spivey-Paul, medical center director for the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, stepped down from her position Nov. 3 after four years as director and 41 years of federal service.

“She brought a cheery face and a sense of optimism and really helped us with this transitional period,” said Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd District, who was a supporter of keeping the inpatient care here. “She came in at a very critical moment.”

In 2004, a recommendation by the independent CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) commission sought to close inpatient services in Fort Wayne and scale back outpatient services to save more than $2 million annually.

After fighting to keep the in-patient care here, Souder announced earlier this year that inpatient care would stay and outpatient care would expand to double the space of the existing one, adding services such as kidney dialysis, surgical pain management and orthopedics.

Services such as outpatient surgery, cardiology and oncology also would be expanded.

“(Cathi) certainly was a proponent of veterans getting the care they needed in the community whenever possible,” said Helen Rhodes, associate director for operations for the VA.

An issue of concern under Spivey-Paul's tenure was that the hospital temporarily suspended surgical procedures because of concerns about whether instruments had been properly sterilized, The News-Sentinel reported in October. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alan Pawlow said the hospital was also reviewing its training procedures because “instruments haven't always been getting to the right place at the right time.”

No management changes were contemplated at that time, he said.

Rhodes and Souder said they are confident that even in Spivey-Paul's absence, nothing will change at the hospital or with its plans.

“This isn't going to affect the hospital,” Souder said. “We're in good shape.” Kimberly Radant is interim director until a new permanent director is found. Rhodes said the search is under way.


- Kevin Leininger of The News-Sentinel contributed to this report.