County official calls for resignation of Singing River CEO over closure of neurologist's office

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Jackson County Supervisor Randy Bosarge called Monday for the resignation of Pascagoula, Miss.-based Singing River Health System CEO Kevin Holland over the way Mr. Holland dealt with the patients of neurologist Terry Millette, MD, with whom the hospital abruptly cut ties, according to the Sun Herald.

SRHS shut down Dr. Millette's office, called Neurology Associates, Nov. 14, and terminated his contract with little notice. The decision follows a review by the hospital of how Dr. Millette diagnosed and treated patients with multiple sclerosis. He had more than 200 MS patients.

Mr. Bosarge said he is "not happy with the direction the hospital system is going. I'm publicly asking Kevin Holland to resign," according to the report.

Mr. Holland did not respond to Mr. Bosarge but other SRHS administrators responded in support of Mr. Holland.

The board of supervisors heard testimony from patients who said they now fear for their health and expressed anger for being cut off from their physician without any explanation. Since the termination of Dr. Millette's contract, some of his patients must travel long distances to see replacement neurologists and were told they would need to be re-evaluated before they could be treated.

Mr. Bosarge and others on the board of supervisors said they still do not know the details surrounding SRHS' decision to abruptly cut ties with Dr. Millette.

"I don't like what's happening to Dr. Millette or any other doctors in the past and if I find out this was done in a reckless manner to Dr. Millette, I will take action, if I have to take action on my own," Mr. Bosarge said at the board of supervisors' meeting Monday, according to the report. "I believe we need a change in management," he added.

The SRHS board of trustees on Monday provided a written statement saying it agrees with and supports Mr. Holland's decisions.

Chief of Staff Steve Demetropoulos, MD, CMO Randy Roth, MD, and Chief of Staff Elect John Weldon, MD, released a joint statement in support of Mr. Holland's decision. They said SRHS has a process in place to review its physicians and, "We have been very thorough, fair and have followed our medical staff bylaws that govern these situations" and are now focused on the care of Dr. Millette's patients, according to the report.

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