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Parkland: Leadership Change Unrelated to Report of Deficiencies

 |  By Margaret@example.com  
   September 01, 2011

Parkland Memorial Hospital has no heir apparent to succeed Ron Anderson, M.D., who learned late Tuesday that he will no longer serve as the hospital’s president and CEO when his contract expires on Dec. 31. The announcement was made following an executive session of the hospital’s board of managers

The move to replace Anderson as CEO is unrelated to deficiencies discovered by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare in July, said Lauren McDonald, M.D., chair of Parkland’s board of managers, in a telephone interview with HealthLeaders Media Wednesday. The hospital was cited for multiple “immediate jeopardy” deficiencies in August. It has submitted a corrective action plan and is undergoing a second review.


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Anderson is expected to assume a new role, which has yet to be identified, after his contract expires in December. “The board started this process before CMS came into the building. We’ve been discussing for several months what he (Anderson) can do to continue to help us,” she said. 

John Haupert, the current COO and the second-ranking administrator at Parkland, is leaving to become the president and CEO of Grady Health System in Atlanta in October, and therefore not a candidate for the top slot at Parkland, McDonald explained.

The seven-member board met in executive session Tuesday evening to discuss a three-item agenda:

  1. CEO goals and evaluation
  2. Personnel matters involving executive leadership, including potential consulting services
  3. Contracts and personnel matters involving Ron Anderson, MD,  including evaluations and options

 

In accordance with Texas law, no votes were taken during the executive session, which was closed to the public and the press.

McDonald said that the search for Anderson’s successor would take a back seat to creating a new position for Anderson that will keep him working at the hospital beyond Dec. 31. The board plans to hire an organizational expert to help define Anderson’s new role.

His new position will be designed to capitalize on Anderson’s strengths, including his knowledge of public health, healthcare reform and disparity of care issues, McDonald said. The board hopes to finalize an agreement with Anderson before his current contract expires.

McDonald is a nephrologist whose professional relationship with Dr. Anderson dates back to her days as an intern.

She explained that at first the board thought that nothing out of the ordinary was discovered during the first visit by CMS surveyors. McDonald explained that CMS traditionally conducts an exit interview with staff after a survey and that staff members present, including Anderson, described the process as routine.

Several days later a letter from CMS informed Anderson and the board of the extensive deficiencies, including the immediate jeopardy issues.

Still, the board didn’t request and Anderson didn’t offer his resignation following the CMS disclosures.

A second CMS survey was in its third day on Wednesday and McDonald said she did not when it would be completed.

Once Anderson’s future is resolved, the board expects to formally begin the search for a new CEO and president for the safety net hospital. Although a search firm may be hired to find the new leader, McDonald said it’s possible that the board of managers will identify a candidate.

The board has not determined what it will be looking for in its next leader; according to McDonald even the president/CEO title may be up for discussion.

When asked if she thought Parkland had a problem at the top McDonald replied simply “it’s important to have leadership that’s adaptable and able to change.”

Anderson, whose annual compensation package is $885,368, declined to comment on his future with Parkland Memorial. He has been CEO and president of Parkland for almost 30 years.

See Also:
CMS Accepts Parkland Hospital's Plan for Corrective Action

Parkland Faces Second Review

Commentary: Parkland Hospital Audits Raise Troubling Questions

Q&A: Grady Memorial Hospital's New CEO, John Haupert

Margaret Dick Tocknell is a reporter/editor with HealthLeaders Media.
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