&uot;It’s going to be a busy few days, to say the least,&uot;&160;said Jack Houghton said Wednesday, his first day on the job as chief executive officer of Natchez Regional Medical Center.

That’s quite an understatement. Houghton, former CEO of Bossier Medical Center in Bossier City,&160;La., spent most of his first day in meetings with hospital personnel, learning background on the main challenges the county-owned hospital faces today.

Since he is new to the job, Houghton would not name specific issues Wednesday. But some of the hospital’s recent challenges have been cutbacks caused by the Balanced Budget Act.

Houghton said such briefings are crucial because he hold his first meeting with the hospital’s board and Adams County supervisors April 10.

And when he does, Houghton said he wants to know what he is talking about.

&uot;I’m also reading documents to get more background,&uot;&160;Houghton said. &uot;I&160;have a fair amount of reading material to go through at night.&uot;

Throughout Wednesday, Houghton also made a point of meeting hospital employees as he ate lunch or saw them in the halls.

And all next week, Houghton will attend an orientation for hospital executives.

The conference will be sponsored by Quorum Health Resources Inc., which manages the daily operations of Natchez Regional.

Karen Fiducia, a Quorum manager who has served as interim CEO since June 1, 1998, will remain at Natchez Regional until the first week in May to help with the transition.

&uot;It’s great having a transition like this,&uot; Houghton said. &uot;That way, I can ask her questions, and I’m not making decisions cold.&uot;