Northport's DCH Board Appointee Airs Frustrations

NORTHPORT, AL — The City of Northport's appointee to the DCH Health System Board of Directors had pointed words concerning his experience since being appointed a little less than a year ago.

David Albright, a distinguished research professor and the Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health Research at the University of Alabama, was first appointed to the nine-member board last September, and read a lengthly statement to the City Council's Administrative Committee ahead of Monday night's full meeting that chronicled the turbulence he has faced since day one.

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Albright's appointment itself was controversial, as council members were initially split on the need for the appointee to have medical experience. As Patch previously reported, his appointment passed by a 3-2 vote, with District 2 Councilman Woodrow Washington III and District 4's Jamie Dykes voting against the appointment.

Albright was then set to be Northport's sole representative on the board.

Albright explained Monday that he was asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as a part of his onboarding and sought legal counsel from his attorney and the City of Northport.

He was informed by Northport officials that city leadership had never been made aware of the NDA or had been advised of its existence. While NDAs are often common practice, as Albright pointed out with respect to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the NDA he was being asked to execute, in his view, was quite broad in what was being defined as confidential.

Patch also confirmed that all board members are required to sign the same NDA, although Northport officials insist that the language omitting the city from having much of a say with respect to its representation.

"Northport asked me not to sign the NDA since it would prevent me from keeping the City of Northport – my appointing authority - appropriately informed about activities, problems, and any steps to resolve or improve those problems," he said, before mentioning that he has been kept off of all DCH Board Committees and is only allowed to attend the first 15 minutes of the open session of the monthly board meetings. "I do not have access to hospital information that other board members can access. Additionally, my onboarding process to the board was stopped, so I have never been fully onboarded to the board."

While Albright argues that he has been excluded from meaningful participation on the DCH Board of Directors, he also pointed out that the City of Northport has been robbed of its representation on the board for almost 10 months.

The Board consists of nine members total, with two each from the City of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County and one from Northport. What's more, two members are appointed by the medical staffs of DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center, in addition to two by the board itself.

Each full term lasts for six years.

"Recent social media has highlighted problems at DCH," he said. "I do not think these problems are overstated or sensationalized. DCH recently received its sixth-straight near failing hospital safety grade by The Leapfrog Group."

Indeed, the nonprofit watchdog organization grades more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide, with only 7% receiving a "D." The rankings also included DCH as one of eight hospitals in Alabama to receive a "D."

Albright then said less than 1% of hospital's received a failing grade, which underscores the need for further accountability at DCH Health System.

District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo and District 3's John Hinton both had supportive words for Albright, with little other discussion following his statement to city officials on Monday.

Hinton told Patch after the meeting that the overwhelming feeling was one of disappointment at the fact that Northport has not been adequately represented during the last year due to the problems faced by Albright.

"Certainly, we appreciate you serving and we know the frustration and the difficulty you've had with this time," Hinton told Albright during the meeting. "Hopefully, it will be rectified in the near future."

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