Christopher Dougherty, who had been on a leave of absence as president and CEO of Brattleboro (Vt.) Memorial Hospital, will not return to the role.
“After thoughtful discussion, we mutually agreed that given the circumstances, it would be best to move forward with different leadership,” Chloe Learey, BMH’s acting board chair, said in a Nov. 20 video posted to the hospital’s Facebook page.
Mr. Dougherty had served as CEO since May 2022. His departure comes amid scrutiny from the Green Mountain Care Board, which raised concerns about the hospital’s financial stability in an Oct. 1 budget order.
“We are deeply troubled by the quality of BMH’s budget submission and its reporting because the hospital may be at risk of a sudden solvency crisis, which would potentially harm its community and the statewide system of care,” the board wrote in the order.
It also cited “missing, incomplete and inaccurate information” regarding the hospital’s financial state. The hospital internally announced Mr. Dougherty’s leave two days later.
BMH on Oct. 6 named Elizabeth McLarney, MD, and Tony Blofson, MD, acting co-CEOs . They will continue in their roles while the hospital searches for a permanent CEO, Ms. Learey said.
