Former Palo Verde Hospital Executives File Suit Against Board, Healthcare District

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The former CEO, CNO and finance director of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, Calif., have filed a federal lawsuit against the hospital's board president, two board members and the healthcare district, according to a Palo Verde Valley Times report.

The suit claims that emergency patients were being illegally steered to a private fixed-wing medical transport company owned by board president Trina Sartin, instead of to the faster helipad and medical transport operated by the healthcare district, jeopardizing the health of the patients, according to the report.

The diversion was allegedly made to increase Ms. Sartin's profits, "even when this choice of transport is potentially detrimental or even life-threatening to the patient," according to the plaintiffs' complaint, as cited in the report.

The suit also alleges the board members conspired with the healthcare district to dismiss a previous suit filed against the surgeon who had been diverting patients to Ms. Sartin's medical transport company, according to the report.

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