There will be immediate and longer term leadership changes at Saint Francis Hospital and across the system, according to Trinity Health of New England.
In an immediate change, Dr. Robert Roose, who leads Trinity Health Of New England’s Community Hospitals, will serve as interim president of Saint Francis Hospital and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, according to Trinity.
Also, Jennifer Misajet, will serve as interim chief nursing officer.
“We are moving quickly to name an interim chief medical officer. We are also recruiting for a vice president of operations role at Saint Francis alongside the other leadership positions,” Trinity said in a statement.
Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford has struggled over the last several years with the state Department of Public Health extending a contract this past February with an independent monitor to provide additional oversight to the hospital. The six-month extension is “to ensure substantial compliance with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations,” according to a letter from DPH.
“These changes come after months of hearing from colleagues, patients, community members and regulators who have raised important concerns and expectations,” Trinity Health said in the statement.
“We brought in a nationally respected health care consulting firm to review our operations and practices to improve quality and safety. The Department of Public Health’s extended on-site presence at Saint Francis has reinforced the need for immediate and meaningful action. ”
Dr. Daniel Roth, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Trinity Health, said “Saint Francis has cared for people in Hartford for generations, and that matters to us.”
“We hold ourselves to a high standard, and feedback we have received makes clear that continued improvement is essential. We are saying it out loud, and we are doing something about it. The leaders we are putting in place will ensure colleagues are able to provide the best care possible to every patient who walks through our doors.”
Dr. Steve Hanks is to serve as president and CEO of Trinity Health Of New England while continuing to lead Trinity Health New York.
“The two regions will maintain their own brand identities. Montez Carter will move into a key advisor role supporting Dr. Hanks and Dr. Roose during this transition. He will depart the organization effective July 1,” according to Trinity.
“I have been at Saint Francis. I have been with our teams, and I have seen the care and the commitment that is there every day,” said Hanks. “I have also seen areas where additional focus and improvement are required, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. We are going to fix what needs fixing. And we are going to earn back the trust that Saint Francis has always stood for.”
The Office of Health Strategy’s latest annual report on the financial status of Connecticut hospitals reported that Trinity Health of New England’s expenses were over $1.8 billion with a loss of $102 million and a negative operating margin of 5.96%.
Saint Francis Hospital’s total expenses were $914 million with a loss of $54 million and a negative operating margin of 6.4%.
Johnson Memorial Hospital posted losses of $4.3 million. Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury was the only hospital owned by Trinity Health of New England in Connecticut to have a positive operating margin of 4.4%.
Trinity Health of New England has said that its hospitals “face some of the most significant pressures in Connecticut, driven by a payer mix that creates substantial reimbursement challenges.
“More than 30% of the patients we serve are covered by Medicaid or are uninsured, and fewer than 19% are covered by commercial insurance,” a Trinity Health spokesman has said.