Posted on 08/25/2020 10:38:30 AM PDT by buckalfa
Greg Neal told the Bristol Herald Courier he was asked to resign as CEO of Bristol (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center after participating in a surgical procedure without a medical license.
Mr. Neal stepped down from the role Aug. 20. He had served as CEO of Bristol Regional since 2013 and as president of Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health's northeast market since 2018.
Mr. Neal addressed his departure in an email to the Courier in which he said Ballad Health asked him to step down after his involvement in a surgical procedure.
"I agreed with their request and believe it was the right thing to do. After having served for nearly 30 years, I believe I owe the team at Ballad Health, Bristol Regional Medical Center and our community an explanation," he wrote.
Mr. Neal told the newspaper a surgeon recently invited him to enter an operating room to observe a surgical case and support the surgical team. He accepted the invitation.
"As the case began, the surgeon asked if I would like to make the initial incision for this surgical procedure. I regret I did so," Mr. Neal wrote.
"More importantly, I apologize to the patient and their family. I apologize to the team members of Ballad Health, and to the leadership of Ballad Health," he said.
Mr. Neal went on to say the patient was not harmed, but his involvement violated Ballad Health policy, and he accepts accountability.
Ballad Health initially learned about the incident after a team member used the health system's compliance process to report the issue, according to a statement from the health system. Once the issue was reported, Ballad Health said it immediately began an investigation, which concluded with replacing the CEO. Ballad Health named Chad Couch, MD, CMO of Bristol Regional, interim CEO. The physician involved in the surgical procedure also no longer works at the hospital.
"By accepting responsibility for his actions, and the accountability that comes with being a senior leader, Greg demonstrated the integrity that explains why he was such a successful CEO," Ballad Health said. "We are grateful for his years of service, and for recognizing the importance of our code of conduct. When it comes to an environment of patient safety, there cannot be exceptions, regardless of whether you are the chairman of the board or a newly hired team member. Our policies are serious. We all wish Greg success as he moves forward."
Practicing without a license = big no-no (and a crime in every state)
If you are an expert. If you aren’t, you could do damage.
This story is unbelievable to me. Both the surgeon and this guy should have known better.
Surgeon should be fired, too.
And patient should sue hospital, surgeon, and the dude who cut on him.
No they don’t touch the patient. They are there to verbally direct the doctor on how to use the device.
..... Or the patient........
Don't miss next week when Bruce Springsteen removes a gall bladder.
Surgical implant reps were a particular bane of my existence back in my hospital accounting / supply chain management days. In fairness when I started with Humana 40 years ago in their financial management program, I had to work in all hospital departments, including surgery, so as to gain an understanding of how a hospital works.
THey are often used in plot devices on TV. Some show I watched had CHanning Tatums wife as a medical device expert in many of their plot lines.
But I wouldnt want them cutting me. I would want them in the room since they know the device better than some Drs.
Probably ok to watch.
A no no to participate.
Oh geez... give it a rest already!!!!!
He was supervised by a doctor, chances are good he’s witnessed many … what is the big freakin’ deal already????
I am so sick of everybody apologizing for everything.
I bet some Actors who play Drs have also witnessed surgical incisions in order to play their role
Want them cutting on you?
Nursing students in surgical rotation are often invited to participate in a procedure under the supervision and direction of a surgeon. Happens more than you care to know or want to admit. Someone had it in for this guy.
Thats not exactly true — there are a lot of people in an OR, surgical reps I think are the worst, but they are not licensed and there to “help” advise the surgeon.
Doesn’t have an MD let alone a license
The surgeon needs to be fired
And Nancy Pelosi attempts an addadictomy
Only because he got caught
Personal responsibility would have been to say no to even going in to the surgical suite
Not before they have an md. As interns they practice under the surge in’s license
There is a huge difference
It looks like the surgeon had his privileges revoked as well. Remember physicians in hospitals are not generally employed by the hospital (although that is changing). They have privileges to practice. it is damn near impossible to revoke privileges...Trust me. But it looks like that happened according to the article
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