HARTFORD, CT — Trinity Health Of New England announced a series of leadership changes Thursday at Saint Francis Hospital, 114 Woodland St., Hartford, following months of concerns raised by staff, patients, community members and state regulators about quality and safety.
The health system said it conducted an operational review with an external consulting firm and cited an extended on-site presence by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as reinforcing “the need for immediate and meaningful action.”
“Saint Francis has cared for people in Hartford for generations, and that matters to us,” said Daniel Roth, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Trinity Health.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard, and the 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.”
Effective immediately, Robert Roose, who oversees community hospitals for the system, was named interim president of Saint Francis Hospital and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
Jennifer Misajet was appointed interim chief nursing officer.
The system said it is moving to appoint an interim chief medical officer and is recruiting for a vice president of operations.
In a broader leadership shift, Steve Hanks will serve as president and CEO of Trinity Health of New England while continuing to lead Trinity Health, New York.
Officials said the two regions will maintain separate brand identities.
Montez Carter, who was just named Trinity Health of New England CEO last September, will transition into an advisory role supporting Hanks and Roose during the leadership change and is set to leave the organisation on July 1.
Hanks said the changes are aimed at addressing both strengths and shortcomings within the hospital.
“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,” Hanks said.
“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.”
Trinity Health said it will continue recruiting permanent leaders and implementing operational improvements as it responds to regulatory scrutiny and community concerns.
For the full Trinity Health of New England announcement, click on this link.
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