The board scheduled an emergency meeting at noon Thursday following an Oct. 2 letter signed by the health system’s medical executive committee calling for Mr. Elrod’s resignation.
“The board voted to continue operating Willis-Knighton under the leadership of James Elrod, our current president and CEO,” Frank B. Hughes, MD, chairman of the Willis-Knighton board of trustees, said in a statement.
“Following this meeting, we have issues we will continue to work through, and we will do so in a thoughtful, orderly and thorough manner, keeping in mind at all times the welfare of our employees, our patients and the community we serve,” Dr. Hughes said.
The rift between the physicians and Mr. Elrod came to a head last week after Mr. Elrod reportedly called for the firing of two Willis-Knighton Bossier (La.) Health Center officials. Mr. Elrod sought to have the two administrators fired because they were not loyal to him, according to KTBS-3 News.
A spokesperson for the hospital told KTBS-3 News: “To my knowledge, no orders were given [by Mr. Elrod].”
Following the board’s decision, Michael G. Futrell, MD, chief of cardiology at Willis-Knighton Cardiology in Shreveport, submitted his resignation, effective Nov. 30, according to the report.
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