BRATTLEBORO-Brattleboro Memorial Hospital CEO Christopher Dougherty, on an unexplained leave of absence for nearly two months, won't be returning to his job.
"The parties agree that under the current circumstances it is best for Chris to depart and for the hospital to bring in new leadership," the not-for-profit facility said in a written public statement on Nov. 20.
The 500-worker hospital, one of Brattleboro's three largest employers, named Dougherty as its chief executive officer in spring 2022. In the past year, he faced an operating budget shortfall and related questions from state regulators before announcing Oct. 3 that he was taking leave.
Dougherty, who previously led Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, California, hasn't commented publicly. In its statement, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital said, "Chris is proud of his accomplishments and grateful for the opportunity to have led the hospital."
"BMH would like to thank Chris for his service over the past three-and-a-half years and wish him all the best in his future endeavors," the statement said.
The 61-bed hospital will search for a new CEO, Chloe Learey, its acting board chair, said in a Facebook video. Until another leader is hired, doctors Elizabeth McLarney, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Tony Blofson, a primary care physician, will continue as acting co-CEOs.
Past and present administrators have blamed the hospital's fiscal problems on everything from too many unpaid patient bills to their own staff's rising health insurance costs.
In response, they have launched a hiring freeze, let go of six administrators and hired two outside advisers: Ovation Healthcare, a national support organization, and David Sanville, a former chief financial officer at Windsor's Mt. Ascutney Hospital.
But regulators at the Green Mountain Care Board have questioned the accuracy of the budget numbers and ordered the hospital to revise them or risk becoming the first Vermont health care facility to receive state intervention under a new law.
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This News item by Kevin O'Connor originally appeared in VTDigger and was republished in The Commons with permission.