Three executives at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson have taken administrative leave while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigates a physician group and its financial relationship with the hospital.
Beth O’Brien, senior vice president of operations for Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), has been appointed to provide leadership at the hospital while the federal review is underway. St. Joseph is a member of CHI.
“Ms. O’Brien is well-acquainted with St. Joseph Medical Center and has been responsible for the oversight of St. Joseph Medical Center for the last year through her role at CHI,” said Vivienne Stearns-Elliott, spokeswoman for the hospital. “She has a wealth of experience as a hospital CEO.”
Citing employee confidentiality, the hospital is not identifying the names of the executives on leave. In a Feb. 27 statement, hospital officials said the executives requested administrative leave to “avoid any potential conflict of interest during this investigation.”
The statement noted that “the health and safety of St. Joseph patients has never been an issue and is not the subject of this inquiry.”