Becker's Hospital Review

14 CFO / FINANCE Some physicians unpaid for hundreds of hours worked at New Hampshire health system By Alia Paavola S ome physicians who staffed the emer- gency department at two hospitals in the LRGHealthcare network went un- paid for hundreds of hours they worked in April, the Concord Monitor reported July 1. e physicians who went unpaid were part of EM-Staff, a New Hampshire-based ED staffing firm that has a contract with LR- GHealthcare's Lakes Region General Hos- pital in Laconia, N.H., and Franklin (N.H) Regional Hospital. In May, EM-Staff founder Matt Warden, MD, and business partner Joel Hansford, MD, noticed the company and many of its phy- sicians still had not been paid for hundreds of hours they worked in April. e compa- ny officials said nearly $140,000 worth of work went unpaid. April was the last month that the Lakes Re- gion and Franklin Regional were part of LR- GHealthcare, as Concord (N.H.) Hospital purchased the health system out of bank- ruptcy and took over ownership May 1. When the leaders of EM-Staff inquired about the missing payments, hospital administra- tors said a check would not be sent and that they should file a claim in bankruptcy court, which is awaiting a decision, according to the Monitor. Christopher Desiderio, the counsel repre- senting LRGHealthcare in bankruptcy court, said that aer the sale to Concord Hospital closed, they were no longer able to make pay- ments without court authorization. Drs. Warden and Hansford also brought their concerns about the missed payments to Rob- ert Steigmeyer, the CEO of Concord Hospi- tal. In the letter, Drs. Warden and Hansford said they are afraid physicians will quit EM- Staff if they do not receive the money. "While we understand that you are con- cerned with respect to matters prior to May 1, 2021, we are not responsible for services your company provided in April or at any time prior to May 1," Mr. Steigmeyer wrote back to Drs. Warden and Hansford, accord- ing to the Monitor. Concord Hospital is not legally obligated to pay the physicians for hours worked because they didn't take over until May. However, Drs. War- den and Hansford argue that Concord Hospi- tal should feel ethically obligated to ensure the workers are compensated for past work. "We feel this is the worst kind of corporate trickery," Dr. Hansford told the Monitor. EM-Staff physicians will continue to staff the Franklin and Laconia hospital EDs, as they signed a yearlong contract with Concord Hospital before the payment dispute started, according to the report. n Renown lays off 166 employees By Alia Paavola R enown Health laid off 166 em- ployees and implemented a hiring freeze to adjust to the changing healthcare environment, the Reno, Nev.- based system said July 8. Most of the layoffs affected employees in management and administration. Em- ployees affected will receive severance and full benefits, Renown said. Renown said the layoffs come after a "comprehensive review" and will help it align the size of its workforce with current patient care volume. In addition to the job cuts, Renown placed a hiring freeze on 176 open posi- tions "until further notice." Renown said that it continues to recruit for clinical roles and those that support direct patient care. n CFO of Rhode Island agency that runs embattled hospital resigns By Alia Paavola T he CFO of a state agency that runs Cranston, R.I.-based Eleanor Slat- er Hospital resigned about two weeks after being placed on admin- istrative leave, The Boston Globe reported in July. Jennifer White, the CFO of Rhode Island's Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, and former in- terim CEO of Eleanor Slater, resigned July 10. Ms. White was placed on leave June 28. Ms. White was placed on leave as part of a leadership shakeup at the em- battled state-run psychiatric hospital. State officials also announced June 28 that Brian Daly, MD, Eleanor Slater's CMO, would resign at the end of July. Ms. White and Mr. Daly were among officials who raised concerns about improper billing practices at the Rhode Island hospital and have faced crit- icism from union leaders. Union leaders have circulated a no-confidence petition, claiming that many of the top leaders "are responsible for undermining a culture of safety" through several actions, including what they say were "forced" and "inap- propriate" discharges. The leadership changes also come after The Joint Commission issued a preliminary denial of accreditation for Eleanor Slater. The commission's preliminary decision, effective June 17, followed an unannounced review of the facility. n

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