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."
Nursing, and Medical students in surgical rotations are special cases, considerable education and preparation has occurred before entering surgical suites, also, you have to start somewhere, and skin opening is the easiest part of surgery. Even a surgical supply rep. has been around the block many times.
But an untrained civilian, is just stupid
Because he is considered a medical technician. He is in there because if the equipment he manages. IF he goes beyond scope of his authorization law suits will have him too
I’m a mechanic, people ask me to participate in surgery all the time, NOT.
I have drill a hammer and a punch though, so I’m set when they finally do ask me.
Interns and residents have teaching licenses. They practice under supervision, but have their own ticket.
No it doesn’t happen all the time
You are qualified to be an orthopedic surgeon!
...Not before they have an md.
I did, but that was 40 years ago. Much preceding training occurred, and it was heavily... mentored
My brother-in-law is a surgical assistant. Basically he is in charge of the instruments used by the surgeon making certain that the right equipment is available and often hands it to the surgeon. But as far as I know he does not cut.
It’s not easy work. He works a 12 hour shift 4 days a week. This is leading quickly to retirement. :-)
Medical students routinely participate and are scrubbed in to surgery in academic institutions, I learned to sew by closing the open saphenous vein harvests in bypass surgery. It took me as long to sew the leg from heel to thigh as it did for the surgeon to actually to the actual surgery
Point being — in the operating room significant technical procedures are taught to medical students, and under the academic institution and it is perfectly legal. A patient can refuse to have a student, but it is accepted and required practice for the training of physicians.
So your BIL is a scub tech. An integral part of the surgical team, and a licensed position.
Watch one...do one...teach one.
Is that completely true? Some years back I read that orthopedic companies had some of their salesmen suit up to critique in-theater use of their new power-toys. Am I mistaken, was that a one-off aberration, or did the powers that be put a stop to that?
No there is not anything more. He did not hold privileges to commit surgery. Eventhough it is truly the simplest part of the surgery, a skin cut doesnt get near anything important, it literally just opens the skin, it demonstrates extremely POOR judgment. He should have stated this is not appropriate and said no. I question the judgment of the surgeon. That God someone called the ethics line and made the report. He did practice without a license. No-no.
The only drawbacks...1) everything took at least twice as long as a real dentist would have taken and...2) there were a couple of occasions when the student told me that that was the first time he/she had done what was about to be done to me.On one occasion I could feel the student's hands shaking inside my mouth! Good thing an instructor was looking over his shoulder at the time! ;-)
There are free clinics associated with almost every major medical school where students practice under vey close supervision. It is a great answer to indigent care and usually the medicine is first rate because there is an experienced attending literally standing over the should of the medical clerk.
I assume my BIL is licensed as he had substantial training for the position. He retired from the police force after 20 years and worked security at the hospital for awhile, which was boring beyond belief. Someone advised him he could earn more as a surgical assistant with training. After the police work, the sight of blood didn’t bother him so he pursued that career.
Surgery, most people are surprised to find out, is not all that bloody. Usual blood loss is less than a nasty skinned knee. Dont get me wrong, there are some blood baths, but in general it is pretty dry.
— No one is allowed to be in the surgical theater
without a medical license —
In my younger years, as part of my job, on multiple occasions I attended major surgery sessions. I didn’t do anything but babysit some important equipment. At the time, the only license I had was a driver’s license.
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