During a March 10 emergency meeting, the Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority Board voted to limit Dr. Webb’s executive authority, barring him from hiring, firing or promoting staff, and from entering new contracts or amending existing ones.
The board also appointed Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Elders, MSN, RN, as acting manager, effective March 14, according to a March 10 hospital news release shared with Becker’s. Ms. Elders will serve in the role until the hospital’s board appoints an interim CEO.
Additionally, the board appointed Chike Nzerue, MD, as a new board member. Dr. Nzerue is the Edward Harkness endowed professor and interim chair of the department of internal medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
Dr. Webb announced his resignation following an investigation into allegations of fraud, wasteful spending and policy violations at the executive level of the hospital.
The Metro Office of Internal Audit released findings from the investigation Feb. 27, and a hospital oversight committee recommended replacing Dr. Webb in a 3-0 vote earlier that week.
As Nashville General’s longest-serving CEO, Dr. Webb has led the safety-net hospital since 2015. His contract expires June 30.
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 11 at 10:25 a.m. Central time.
