Banning, Calif.-based San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital CEO Mark Turner is resigning, effective Sept. 15, according to a Record Gazette report.
Hospital officials said Mr. Turner made the decision to step down months ago, and it was "completely voluntary," according to the report. Mr. Turner has served at the helm of the hospital since 2009, prior to which he worked at Nashville, Tenn.-based Brim Healthcare.
During his tenure, the hospital saw strong growth and opened a new building that included an intensive care unit and emergency department.
Recently, the hospital has been engaged in a quickly souring relationship with Highland, Calif.-based Beaver Medical Group. The hospital contracts with the group's physicians. A previous Record Gazette article reported 80 Beaver Medical physicians called for a "change of leadership" at the hospital. The physicians allege hospital administration has been "aggressive" towards them and patient care was less than satisfactory.
"There has been a lot of distraction in recent months, which has taken away from the wonderful work each member of our team performs every day to deliver high-quality care for the residents of our community," Mr. Turner said in a statement, according to the report. "We tried to cut through that, yet it has persisted. I believe the most impactful step I can take to help our beloved institution turn the page is to step back, and allow the hospital to start fresh with new leadership."