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August 8, 2008 V.I. HOSPITAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES CORPORATION BOARD CONVENES, CARTY AND NAJAWICZ PLACED ON LEAVE, INTERIM CEO/CFO INSTALLED
Chairman of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Board, Carmelo Rivera, today convened a special meeting of the Board in the conference room of the V.I. Port Authority Administration Building on St. Thomas. Members of the Board were called together to address pending concerns over the management of the Schneider Regional Medical Center, given the findings of the joint federal-local Inspectors General audit report on the Administrative Functions of the Medical Center. The meeting was open to the public. “These are extraordinary circumstances, and we have tough challenges ahead. During this time of transition, we will continue to put quality care first for the people that we serve. This is not about the performance of our doctors and nurses; we must necessarily address and correct the managerial challenges before us in order to bring forward the best interests of the Territory in our commitment to quality patient care,” Chairman Rivera said. During a three-hour meeting, the Board voted on several motions. As a first matter of business, the Board reported on the five resignations from the St. Thomas/St. John District Board, including: June Adams, Chairman; Beverly Chongasing; Francis Jackson; Natalie Thomas; and Doradean Williams. In accordance with Title 19, Section 242 of the Virgin Islands Code, the HHFC Board shall consist of fifteen members, including the Commissioner of Finance, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and one additional member of the Cabinet. A letter from Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. was read into the record nominating Commissioner Lynn Millin Maduro of the Department of Property and Procurement to serve on the Board. Next, and as a matter of administrative action, the Board unanimously approved that Commissioner Lynn Millin Maduro serve as Vice Chair of the HHFC Board, and Director Debra Gottlieb was unanimously approved to serve as Treasurer. The Board approved a motion to retain interim counsel and to allocate $50,000 to the Board for administrative expenses: $25,000 to be provided from the St. Thomas/St. John District and $25,000 from the St. Croix District. The Board proceeded into formal Executive Session, which was closed to the general public, due to the confidential nature of the discussion regarding personnel actions. The actions of the HHFC Board while in closed Executive Session were then announced. During the Executive Session, SRMC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amos Carty was invited to appear before the Board, and was subsequently placed on leave with pay and in accordance with his Government Notice of Personnel Action (NOPA). The Board also voted to place SRMC Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Peter Najawicz, who was not present today, on leave with pay at his NOPA salary. The Board unanimously voted to install Elizabeth J. Harris as the Interim CEO and Eugene E. Welsh as the Interim CFO of Schneider Regional Medical Center. Elizabeth J. Harris comes to the Interim CEO position with an extensive medical service background, and a reputation for administrative and ethical excellence. Harris is currently Vice President for Quality and Performance Improvement at SRMC and previously served as SRMC Director of Radiology and Physiological Testing since returning to St. Thomas in 2004. She was recruited from Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was the Clinical Director of Imaging Services for 25 years. Eugene E. Welsh comes to the Hospital as Interim CFO with strong credentials, having served as the former Director of Hospital Financial Services for the Government of the Virgin Islands at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. He has been serving as a Consultant for Thangaeles Consulting on St. Thomas since 2003. In this capacity, Welsh has advised and led in numerous financial management and administrative capacities, including federal grant management; financial compliance reporting; and general business operations and analysis. Board members in attendance today included: Carmelo Rivera, Chairman; Claudette Watson Anderson, Commissioner of Finance; Debra Gottlieb, Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Lynn Millin Maduro, Commissioner of Property and Procurement; Wallace Phaire, Chairman, St. Croix District Governing Board; Dr. Michelle Berkley, Physician Representative, St. Croix District Governing Board; Faustina Richardson, Nursing Representative, St. Croix District Governing Board; Mrs. Frances M. Molloy, St. Croix District Governing Board; Aldrea Harley Wade, St. Thomas/St. John District Governing Board; and Mrs. Imelda Dizon, St. Croix District Governing Board. Vivian I. Ebbesen-Fludd, Ex-Officio Board Member, St. Croix District Governing Board was also present. Following the adjournment of the HHFC Board meeting, Chairman Carmelo Rivera, Attorney General Vincent F. Frazer, and Commissioner Vivian I. Ebbesen-Fludd addressed the Schneider Regional Medical Center Staff to provide encouragement and to ask for continued cooperation in the coming days. Confidence was expressed in the hospital staff and senior leadership for their ability to provide quality care and service. Chairman Rivera indicated that the HHFC Board will meet regularly to expeditiously address the issues in play, and in order to provide “proper guidance and governance moving forward.” The Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Board has scheduled its next meeting for August 22, 2008. |
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