DICKINSON (AP) - The chief executive officer of St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center in Dickinson is leaving to become a vice president at Bismarck's Medcenter One.

A statement released Wednesday from the Dickinson hospital said Claudia Eisenmann was brought in by Catholic Health Systems, Inc., the hospital owner, last year to deal with financial problems, including millions of dollars in debt.

"Those goals have been met," the statement said.

Hospital officials said that for the first time in several years, St. Joseph's has ended a three-month period in the black. It is working on a federal designation as a "critical access" hospital, which will increase Medicare reimbursements.

Eisenmann's resignation takes effect Nov. 21.

The Dickinson hospital went through a difficult period in dealing with a $13 million debt. In February, three hospital board members resigned, saying the hospital's cancer and mental health centers had closed and they were worried about more staff cuts and changes in service.

Eisenmann said she had warned that the steps toward financial health would be hard.

With the Dickinson hospital's finances improving, the job as Medcenter One's vice president of professional practices "provides me with the kind of scope and challenge I feel that I need at this point in my career," her statement said.