Jeff Comer, chief executive officer of financially troubled North Hawaii Community Hospital, stepped down today.

The resignation was announced by Vice President of Fund Development and Marketing Paul Dunne, who said the board of directors, physicians and administrative staff were united in support of Comer's decision to leave.

Last week, the private hospital on the Big Island laid off 59 full- and part-time employees in the face of mounting financial trouble. The layoff of 12.6 percent of the hospital staff to save $4 million led to a call for Comer and the hospital's board to resign.

Kurt Loveless, regional vice president of the national hospital management group Quorum Health Resources, is providing leadership as a national search is conducted to find a new CEO.

"Our top priority is the immediate care and well-being of our patients and hospital staff during this transition to permanent NHCH leadership," Loveless said.

The hospital had said the personnel reductions were part of a "Get Well Plan" that included revenue-building initiatives such as expansion of clinical services, physician recruitment, and improvements in billing procedures and staffing.

"The change in hospital leadership is our first step toward healing the rifts between the community and our hospital," the board said. "We recognize the board itself must undergo an orderly transition process over time, and be more inclusive to our doctors, donors and community stakeholders. We are well under way toward this goal, and hope to provide specific details shortly."

North Hawaii Community Hospital is a 40-bed, full-service, acute-care medical center. It is a community-owned, nonprofit hospital that is managed by Quorum Health Resources. It opened in May 1996 and serves the 30,000 residents and visitors of North Hawai'i and the Hamakua and Kohala coasts.