Vermont Hospital Chief’s Cooperation A Breath Of Fresh Air Vs. Arrogant Predecessor

Stephen Leffler M.D. just taught a quick lesson on survival.

His own.

Others might heed the lesson.

By embracing a cost-containment commission’s recommendation that the University of Vermont Medical Center cut $300 million in expenses, Leffler immediately agreed to work with the panel.

In doing so, the new president of Vermont’s largest hospital contrasted himself with his predecessor, the arrogant Sunil Eappen M.D.

Eappen had a short reign as hospital chief owing, very simply, to his insular, standoffish personality.

No matter how many times state officials and management analysts tried to tell Eappen he needed to start getting serious about UVM’s spending, he pushed them aside in his special arrogant way.

Finally hospital trustees realized he had to go or they'd be in trouble.

So Eappen “resigned,” marking the second time in just a few years that he lost a New England hospital administratorship.

He was arguably the heir apparent to be top administrator at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston but then for some reason he was passed over.

Eappen’s next stop was UVM, where he showed he could offend anyone who mattered.

Enter Steve Leffler, who had been UVM’s chief operating officer. He's now CEO of the health network.

Trustees finally showed some smarts by promoting Leffler to the top job.

Rep. Daisy Berbeco, D-Winooski, vice chair of the House Committee on Health Care, said she's “absolutely noticed a shift” toward cooperation with the change in leadership.

“Leffler has given me some hope,” Berbeco said, “most notably for the willingness to collaborate with the legislature and regulators.”

He has cut administrative salaries, a change from Eappen having given Berbeco's committee false salary information when he appeared before it.

Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care Board, said recently he's also encouraged by Leffler's approach.

“Dr. Leffler is a doctor first and foremost,” Foster said. “I believe in my heart of hearts that if he has the option between reducing care and reducing administrative costs, I think he’s going to pick administrative costs to the extent it’s possible and the right thing to do."

√ Eappen stonewalls Berbeco, Vermont Daily Chronicle:

https://share.google/8wOGvHMFQs4J2RqFd

√ UVM Health must cut expenses by $300 million in three years, independent liaison finds - VTDigger:

https://share.google/FWqRxEP4PnX56rOtw

√ Berbeco committee: