John Johnson, chairman of Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Health's board of commissioners, resigned Monday night after commissioners voted to retain CEO Jeff Feasel despite Mr. Johnson's attempt to fire him, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Mr. Johnson cited $120 million in legal and settlement costs related to a 2009 Medicare fraud lawsuit, the loss of accreditation for the hospital's general surgery residency program and the failure to partner with Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach as reasons to fire Mr. Feasel.
Commissioners voted four-to-three to keep Mr. Feasel, who has led the system since 2005. Before the vote, board members evaluated Mr. Feasel's performance, giving him a cumulative score of 3.2 on a five-point scale, according to the report. Several successes, including a reduction in the hospital's tax rate, improved patient satisfaction scores and the hospital's solid finances, led supporters to retain Mr. Feasel.
"I think I've done all I can for the hospital, and we need to give someone else a chance," Mr. Johnson said in a statement, according to the report. "It's clear I am a minority voice."