Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1147537
17 17 CEO/STRATEGY Top Erlanger execs face no-confidence vote from medical staff By Ayla Ellison P hysicians who oversee care quality and safety at Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System unanimously approved a no-confi- dence vote in several of the health system's execu- tives in May, according to the Times Free Press. On May 9, physicians on Erlanger's 11-member Medical Executive Committee sent a letter to the health system's board of trustee's chairman in- forming him of the no-confidence vote. e vote was directed at Erlanger President and CEO Kevin Spiegel, COO Robert Brooks, and Vice President of Operations Tanner Goodrich, several mem- bers of the Medical Executive Committee told the Times Free Press. e committee's letter raised concerns about oper- ational issues, including understaffing and policies that cause overcrowding in the emergency depart- ment and operating rooms. "Patient safety issues have been raised with man- agement since 2015," the letter stated, according to the Times Free Press. "Despite over three years of complaints and concerns by patients and phy- sicians, hospital management has been ineffective in addressing these issues. ere exists a lack of ac- countability in senior management who are either unable or unwilling to effect necessary changes to ensure patient safety." In response, the board of trustees said it is con- fident the concerns raised by the physicians will be addressed. "At this point, the board has complete confidence that Mr. Spiegel and the team will work with the medical staff to resolve the issues brought to the board's attention," Mike Griffin, board of trustees chairman, told the Times Free Press. Mr. Spiegel said resolving the concerns raised by physicians is a top priority. "Rest assured that my team and I are working very closely with medical staff leadership and all Er- langer physicians. We are committed and focused on addressing concerns promptly and effectively," he told the Times Free Press. n Mercy hospital system to cut jobs, restructure By Kelly Gooch C hesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy health system is cutting jobs in a restructuring move, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The system attributed the cuts to lower Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, as well as higher costs for labor, drugs and supplies. "We are restructuring [the week of June 17], reducing targeted po- sitions and moving some co-workers into new roles," Mercy said in a statement to the Post-Dispatch. "Our hearts and prayers go out to our affected co-workers and their families. They will receive help finding new jobs and a severance pack- age, including compensation and benefits based on their position and length of service," the system said. Mercy Health has 30 acute-care hospitals in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The cuts will occur throughout the system and are expect- ed to affect less than 1 percent of Mercy's 45,000-member workforce. n Kaiser to build new headquarters By Kelly Gooch K aiser Permanente revealed plans to build new headquar- ters in Oakland, Calif., where the healthcare giant has been based since 1945. The Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center will bring together 7,200 nation- al and Northern California regional employees and physicians from seven locations and lower annual operating costs, while supporting the city of Oakland, Kaiser officials said in a news release. Construction is slated to begin in 2020. "For more than seven decades, Kaiser Permanente has been proud to call Oakland our home, and today we further strengthen our commit- ment to this incredible city," said Bernard J. Tyson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. "While allowing us to go from seven sites to one and reduce operational costs by more than $60 million annually, which will create additional benefit for our members and customers, this new headquarters — The Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center — will also bring tremendous benefits to the Uptown neighborhood, serve as a thriving center for the city of Oakland and be a collaborative workspace for our employees." The new offices, announced June 17, will feature space for a health clinic and health education, community meeting areas, health food options, farmers markets, exercise and cooking classes, and a place to highlight community-inspired art. Kaiser officials said construction on the new headquarters is sched- uled for completion in 2023, at which time local developer Lane Part- ners will purchase existing Kaiser-owned buildings for renovation and commercial use. n