Executives at Towson, MD, medical center on leave during investigation

Three executives at Towson, MD-based St. Joseph Medical Center are on administrative leave to avoid a conflict of interest as federal authorities look into financial dealings between the hospital and an affiliated doctors' group, the hospital said. According to a statement released by the hospital, the federal Department of Health and Human Services contacted the hospital in June 2008 to request information "pertaining to a physician group and its financial relationship with the hospital." Hospital officials said they were cooperating with authorities in what they characterized as a "civil investigation" and said none of the issues relates to patient care.