In an unprecedented move, the medical staff at Bradford Regional
Medical Center overwhelmingly delivered a “no confidence” vote for
the facility’s administration, citing concerns about communication
and patient care.
The vote totals were 24 “no confidence” in the current hospital
administration and seven votes expressing continued confidence.
There was one abstention.
During the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night, an
executive session was called and the medical staff “engaged in a
lengthy and deliberate discussion,” a press release from the
medical staff officers said.
“The medical staff believes that there are significant and
substantial concerns regarding our relationship and ability to
communicate with the current hospital administration,” they said.
“The medical staff believes that there are significant and
substantial concerns regarding our ability to relate our concerns
about patient care through the current administration and to the
board of directors.
“The medical staff believes that our primary and overriding
priority should be continued excellence in patient care.”
Dr. Richard McDowell, the board president, told The Era after
hearing the results of the vote that he and the board fully back
the administration.
“We strongly support (the administration),” he said. “Without
question. But that does not mean we would not welcome discussion
with the physicians on this.”
According to the release from the medical staff, the discussion
at the meeting Tuesday night included “several issues regarding
patient care, the current status of the medical staff,
administration and the hospital board of directors relationships
and communications were discussed. The discussion was heartfelt,
lively and at times, contentious. We did, however, reach a
construction consensus.”
According to BRMC’s Web site, the medical staff officers are
listed as Waldemar Szczupak, MD, president; Donald J. Deforno, MD,
vice president; John D.ð Breznik, MD, secretary/treasurer; and
Robert Tahara, MD, member-at-large.
BRMC’s Chief Executive Office and President George Leonhardt was
at the medical staff meeting to give his president’s report but was
not present for the vote.
McDowell said the board has no intention of firing Leonhardt, or
any other member of the administration.
“We have no intentions of replacing George,” he said. “I have
full confidence. I speak for the board, too … he’s a terrific
administrator and strategist and communicator.”
The hospital is in the midst of a $14.5 million renovation and
expansion project that broke ground last year. This will address
many areas of the facility, including increasing the size of the
emergency room, expanding surgery and cardiac services, among
others.
“It’s a medical center that’s on the move,” McDowell said, who
also had good words to say about the administration, physicians and
employees.
“I am very impressed with the employees,” McDowell said. “They
work very hard for the hospital, for patient care. It’s a very
caring organization.
“This is the best, by far, the strongest hospital in the area,”
McDowell said. “We have not rested on our laurels … it has been
quite phenomenal.”
The medical staff officers said they hope this will be a spring
board to help solve some of the facility’s problems.
“The medical staff genuinely hopes this vote will prompt the
board of directors to work with the medical staff in a cooperative
fashion in order to solve these crucial issues that affect quality
of care at our institution,” the medical staff officers said.
McDowell echoed those statements.
“It’s very important,” he said. I look forward to working with
them, the medical staff, with these issues. Moving the place
forward.”
McDowell noted that any recommendation by the medical staff is
not binding – the board of directors has the final say in any
decisions at the hospital.
“The board of directors of the hospital is responsible for the
recruitment and retention of the (president and chief executive
officer),” said Kimberly Maben, director of communications at BRMC.
She added this vote, like any vote taken at a medical staff
meeting, would go to the board for review. “It is not binding.”
A “no confidence” vote was apparently not on the agenda.
“We feel that the board of directors has full confidence in the
administration of the hospital,” McDowell said. “(Leonhardt)
especially has done an outstanding job in delivery high quality
care.”
“This is probably the best administrative team the hospital’s
had in the 25 years I’ve been on the board,” McDowell said.
“They’ve done an outstanding job of advancing the hospital.”
McDowell, who was president at the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford for several years, said these communication concerns are
not new to him, but gives all sides an opportunity to start
discussions.
“These are highly educated people with very legitimate concerns
for operations … they can be very vocal at times.”
“We are all on the same wave length,” he said. “High quality
health care was always the concern of the board, administration and
physicians.”
“We have a common ground to work toward.”
He added that in organizations such as BRMC, there are “always a
certain amount of rumblings. Some are very personal and
self-serving. We have to sort that out.”
It was not clear what exactly the communication or other
problems are. The hospital and doctors have been in the headlines
recently with civil lawsuits between BRMC and oncologist Dr. Edward
Miskiel, who was fired in January.
The medical staff meets four times a year, and operates under
its own by-laws.
