June 15, 2018
CHI St. Alexius Health released the following statement in response to Thursday’s decision by the medical staff not to reinstate to the Medical Executive Committee, the Peer Review Committee, and Credentials Committee.
“We are disappointed that the medical staff at CHI St. Alexius Health has made the decision to oppose reinstating the Medical Executive Committee (MEC), the Peer Review Committee, and the Credentials Committee despite physician leadership’s and hospital administration’s efforts to compromise on the physicians’ requests.
“It is important for the community to know that physicians continue to treat patients at CHI St. Alexius Health.
“Following a May 31 meeting with members of the MEC, Tony Jones, Catholic Health Initiatives interim executive vice president and chief operating officer, pledged to review North Dakota leadership and the division location. Earlier this week, Mr. Jones informed MEC members that effective immediately the legacy CHI St. Alexius Health facilities (CHI St. Alexius Bismarck, Garrison and Turtle Lake) will report through CHI’s Nebraska Division and Dr. Cliff Robertson on an open-ended interim basis. He also informed the committee that after careful review, the North Dakota division offices will remain in Fargo.
“CHI, our Board and our management have been working with physician leaders and have been open to the physicians’ professional recommendations and opinions about the care we deliver and the environment in which we deliver it. Leadership has worked hard and in good faith to find common ground and accommodation with the medical staff. We have the utmost respect for our physicians and have made efforts to compromise. However, we understand that a difference of opinion continues to exist but we believe that it is not insurmountable and will continue to confer with physician leaders to find a path forward.
“The entire industry has had to reevaluate how it cares for patients, how patients want to be cared for and how it does business. We need a way forward for CHI St. Alexius Health, for the community, for our patients, for our employees - and for our physicians.”