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."
Honestly, I dont disagree with anything you have said either. But here is the issue — and I have been called out for saying this about the George Floyd incident. The optics of this are indefensible. While trivial, and likely little harm came to bear, the fact of the matter is that this is the CEO and he did something that he would raise holy hell about if someone else did it in his hospital who was unlicensed. The fact that he is a CEO for 30 years does not mean the rules are different for him. Did he need to get the professional death penalty? Probably not — did he need to apologize profusely and fix it — absolutely. The problem is that the higher you are in an organization, the greater the penalty for even forgivable f*ck ups.
He lost his moral authority to lead with this incalculably stupid error.
I read the headline and thought, “I know people who have observed procedures...”
Then I read he did the incision.
It is always good to read the articles. That’s where the good stuff is.
But they are medical students. Hopefully in a teaching hospital. Hopefully there will a signed waiver.
I worked in a hospital. The only thing I had to do with surgery is that people used my “tech” to call people in for emergency surgery. As such, I spent a lot of time working with docs, techs, anesthesiologists, etc. Usually they would yell at me because their device went off at 2 AM when they were NOT on call.
That said, if you hang around it long enough you begin to get a sense of the seriousness of the process. I’ve watched from the other side of a door.
The process they go through to start a procedure is very strict. And they stop during the process to double check stuff is right. And no one leaves when it is done until everything is accounted for.
They are people with personalities—but there are steps in the process when everyone acts like a “robot” following mandated safety procedures.
Having someone who isn’t a surgeon cut a patient is one of those times when ANYONE in the room has the authority to stop the process—much like anyone on the Toyota manufacturing line can stop the line when they see something wrong.
It may sound like its “just a funny thing”, but this goes against a LOT of very serious rules. I wouldn’t want to have been anywhere near that room. Because you would pick up being named in a lawsuit, and hours and hours of time in depositions.
This is a huge deal. At least it is now that its public.
I have shoulder surgery in a little while. I HOPE the president of the hospital does the incision. I would love to have a fixed arm, and a comfortable retirement.
They are students. In a teaching environment. It is covered in the waivers you sign before surgery.
It will be more than a little harm.
This will have to be reported to the Joint Commision, State Board of Physicians, malpractice insurance carriers - the patient will be offered a settlement. The legal costs, staff costs, etc to deal with all the inspections,
corrective action plans, chart reviews, policy and procedure reviews and rewrites - they will also write off the patients bill. The surgeon will be reported and maybe lose his privileges as well.
If they get out of this for less than a $1million they are lucky.
I appreciate what you are saying.
But it is more about a complete lack of judgement in a arena that is about as black and white as you get.
This guy was the CEO. He is the guy who is supposed to make sure everyone in every surgery is properly credentialed and that ALL procedures in the hospital system are followed. This is not TV.
So, this guy goes in to witness a surgery. OK, that is not fire-able. Go in, stand behind, and don’t touch anything. If the patient is OK with it-and they might be—sign the waiver and have a ball.
I cannot imagine many patients doing that...but, yeah.
But the second he took the scalpel in his hand and touched the patient, he was an unlicensed person performing a procedure. That is the definition of malpractice.
So, he puts the patient in jeopardy. He puts everyone in the room in legal and civil jeopardy. He puts the hospital in civil and legal jeopardy.
All because he has an ego.
Is that really the person you want in charge of your hospital?
It might seem trivial, but its a pretty clear case to me.
Not true, an observer may be present with the permission of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, circulating RN, and patient......
My nephew was such an observer several times when a senior in high school since he was going to pursue a career in medicine.......
excuse moi, i meant within the surgical field,
gloved, either holding a retractor, or a knife,
or sponge, etc.
given the ether dome, mea culpa.
observing yes. touching a patient no
He is also credentialed to be in the OR and has a very limited role he stays strictly within
>>No one is allowed to be in the surgical theater
without a medical license
Not even the patient?
...But they are medical students. Hopefully in a teaching hospital. Hopefully there will a signed waiver.
All true.
I am aware of the paperwork it will generate. I have been the chief medical officer at a large institution. I was simply agreeing with that in the. Grand scheme of things this is not worth the hassle it is creating.
But it will most certainly be a sh*t show for this institution.
Technically could have civil and criminal liability as non-permitted surgery is considered battery by the criminal courts. Would not want to be this guy. All that being said... And really not even relevant... Is that almost certainly the skin incision was not an issue in the ultimate outcome.
The students are covered via provisos initialed by patients on the medical consent forms which allow, if so initialed, observations and limited participation by students or interested parties with direct interest in medicine as well as allowing video taping of said procedures in the interest in review or teaching. So a patient can opt out if they don’t want third parties involved. The big issue to me was that the CEO might not have had consent by the patient to allow him to so participate in the procedure. CEO’s always get accused of being “disconnected” from the work culture over which they preside.
I have mixed feelings about this and would like to know more. It may be more that someone had the “knives out” against this CEO and if it wasn’t this one thing it might have been something else.
Medical consents have provisions that cover such medical technicians who the doctor may employ when or as necessary for the safe and proper care of the patient during a given procedure. Medtronic pace maker techs are one such category...many of them don’t have extensive medical background but they do know the equipment very well.
Somebody wanted this guy gone.
____________
He made it easy...
I love House...
Of course it’s legal. Medical students are there learning. Just like student nurses are assigned patients
That’s apples and cow turds. This yob has NO medical training. All his schooling is business and health admin. He is the a hole bean counter who keeps nurses over worked and ICUs at 90% capacity
The doc should have never invited him in. He should have never accepted
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