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Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
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Nashville General Hospital is facing turmoil: What to know as it searches for a new CEO
Nashville General Hospital has served as the city's safety net hospital for decades but recently has been the center of controversies and upheaval. Last month, then-hospital CEO Joseph Webb, at the helm for a decade, sent a letter on Feb. 26 announcing he was stepping down to members of the Metro Nashville Hospital Authority Board, which oversees the hospital. His decision came amid allegations of mismanagement, nepotism and bullying and one day after board members, who serve on a committee charged with evaluating the CEO's performance, voted 3-0 to recommend to the full board not to renew Webb's contract. Here's what you should know about the hospital during this time of transition. Nashville General Hospital, located in North Nashville on Meharry Medical College's campus, has cared for generations of families − including paying patients and those who can't afford to pay. It serves as the index hospital for Meharry, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers. That partnership includes employing college faculty and medical students for on-the-job learning at the teaching hospital. Nashville taxpayers help fund the hospital. Every fiscal year, Metro Council members decide how much to reimburse Nashville General for caring for indigent residents. Last year, that figure neared $60 million. A day after Webb announced he was leaving, the Metro Nashville Office of Internal Audit released a scathing report alleging the hospital paid millions for contracts without proper board approval, overpaid a valet company more than $281,000 for hours that weren't worked and falsified contracts to mislead reporters while responding to public records requests. Webb said he hadn't seen the audit findings before it was made public, but he and his staff had been interviewed by auditors and knew the report was coming. Hours after the release of the audit report, the full hospital oversight board voted not to renew Webb's contract. Webb claimed his decision to leave had nothing to do the with audit or allegations and he told board members they should do more research "before you prosecute this administration." Webb left office March 14, more months before his contract was due to expire at the end of June. The allegations contained in the audit weren't Webb's only problem. At the start of the year, he had plans to continue at the helm. He told The Tennessean during a January interview about his vision for a new state-of-the art medical center spread out across 20 to 25 acres, at an undetermined location off Meharry's campus. He estimated it could cost between $500-700 million. The problem: the current Hospital Authority Board and Mayor Freddie O'Connell hadn't signed off on Webb's plan. Neither had Meharry, which supplies medical students and some faculty. Also, Metro Council members hadn't approved either the land or the cost of building the hospital, something some feared would climb closer to $1 billion. Webb's troubles didn't end there. Webb had pushed for Metro government to donate land and to allow the hospital to take over part of the Ted Rhodes Golf Course and nearby soccer fields. He pointed to findings by two consultants who agreed that was the best place to locate a large new medical facility. But again, Webb didn't have enough support. The hospital leases an aging building from Meharry, a contract that expires in two years. Some members of the hospital oversight board said they're not convinced the hospital should move off the college's campus. Several board members repeatedly mentioned concerns about the strained relationship between Webb and Meharry. Webb told The Tennessean there was "no friction" between him and Dr. James Hildreth, president of Meharry, or other college leaders. The fallout from a Jan. 30 letter Webb wrote to Hildreth suggested it was more of a chasm. Webb's tone seemed polite, saying "the community is crying out" for the two of them to sit down and discuss the partnership between the hospital and the college. But Webb also sent copies of the letter to more than 20 elected leaders, including the mayor, Metro Nashville Council members and hospital oversight board members. Hildreth's response was more direct, highlighting several "real" issues that won't be helped by merely talking. Meharry officials claim the hospital owes them more than $7 million, something Webb denied. Hildreth noted Webb's refusal to finalize a standard "physicians services agreement" or professional services agreement to outline physicians' services and compensation. Outside Nashville General's emergency room, a message on the windows touts there is no wait to be treated. That may sound like a good thing from a patient's perspective, but city leaders and the hospital authority board have voiced concerns that the hospital isn't treating enough patients, who often end up in the emergency rooms of other area hospitals. That caused some to question whether it was living up to its mission to care for indigent residents, especially at at time when Webb publicly discussed his vision for a much larger, costly medical center. The average daily patient population ranges from 30 to 50, even though the hospital is licensed for 150 beds. Webb said the current hospital only has room for 83 patients. Nashville's mayor has repeatedly vowed to support the hospital and to offer city resources to search for a new CEO. During an emergency meeting March 10, the hospital oversight board announced that Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Elders will serve as acting manager as a search for an interim CEO and then permanent CEO gets underway. The board discussed the importance of including residents and Meharry in the decision to select the hospital's next leader. Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville General Hospital: What to know amid CEO search
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your taxes support Nashville General Hospital. Weigh in on its future.
Nashville General Hospital turns a new page when CEO Dr. Joseph Webb ends his 10-year tenure on Friday. The hospital now has the opportunity to redefine itself and its role in a city where healthcare is one of the dominant industry players, ironically in a community where health outcomes are generally poor. This is also a chance to move past financial and leadership controversies that have plagued General, the only public hospital in town. Most important, this a moment for all Nashville-Davidson County citizens to realize that they have a stake in the hospital's future. Over the last 11 years, city taxpayers have subsidized the hospital by an average of nearly $50 million a year. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, that subsidy rose to $59.5 million − or about 40% of the total budget. The hospital historically has served a large number of patients who cannot afford to pay for treatment. In 2016, the hospital, under Webb's watch, asked for two $10 million emergency city subsidies to pay the bills. The year prior, General's patient mix included 46% who could not pay. General cannot survive without the public's support. It must answer some tough questions. What is the mission of the hospital in 2025 and beyond? Is it sustainable? If so, how might the community gear it for success? The Hospital Authority Board lost confidence in Webb after a late February internal audit report revealed millions of dollars in contracts not authorized by the board, falsified contracts and overpayments. Board members began to push him out, and at a time where the outgoing leader was seeking a contract renewal, they clipped his wings. On Monday, even before Webb left his post, board members named Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Elders as interim manager while they seek and hire a new CEO. Over the last decade, governance has been at times tumultuous. Board seats in the 11-seat authority have not always been filled. In 2018, the board voted 5-1 to extend Webb's contract without an evaluation or setting any terms for his leadership. Seven years later, here we are. Webb's supporters say he was passionate about serving underrepresented communities. He touted his success in a news release after the audit. "Together, we have transformed Nashville General from a hospital of last resort to a hospital of choice for thousands of Davidson County citizens," Webb said. The hospital, which originally opened in 1890, has leased space at Meharry Medical College, one of Nashville's four historically Black colleges and universities, since 1998. However, the relationship between Webb and Meharry President James Hildreth has soured. Opinion: Trump's tariffs will hurt Tennessee. Gov. Bill Lee should speak up – for our sake Meharry officials said the hospital owes it $7 million and would not finalize a physician's services agreement. Plus, the hospital's lease is up in 2027. Before the internal audit's release, Webb worked to rally the community to support building a new hospital funded by the city. With his departure, another question that the board will have to resolve is what happens after the Meharry lease ends. Year Taxpayer subsidy 2014-15 $45,000,000 2015-16 $45,000,000 2016-17 $51,000,000 2017-18 $52,141,100 2018-19 $46,112,100 2019-20 $43,112,100 2020-21 $43,112,100 2021-22 $49,560,000 2022-23 $54,038,000 2023-24 $57,820,700 2024-25 $59,555,300 Community input is vital. In 2017, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry recommended Nashville General end its in-patient care, a controversial proposal that died very quickly. The recommendation drew an unusual alliance between then At-Large Council Member Erica Gilmore (now Trustee) and former Council Member Steve Glover to keep the hospital open. Gilmore, a Black Democrat, and Glover, a white conservative Republican, expressed concerns about lack of transparency by Metro Government and the impact on the Black community's access to health care options. Stay informed: Sign up for the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter "We understand the important role of Nashville General Hospital, and the role it plays in our city, and we have committed to securing its future," Gilmore said at a news conference in 2018. Nashville's Black community makes up 26% of the population of the city, which for decades prior to the Civil Rights movement maintained racial segregation laws. Even today, the lingering effect of the unequal treatment affects health outcomes and access to opportunities for marginalized residents. Current Mayor Freddie O'Connell expressed his support for Nashville General. "I'm very, very excited to work with both the board of Nashville General Hospital on establishing new leadership," O'Connell said in February. "This is to me the clearest opportunity we've had to look forward to a future for NGH in quite some time. Now is the time to amplify the public conversation on the role and future of Nashville General Hospital for the benefit of all citizens. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@ or find him on X at @davidplazas or BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville General Hospital only survives with public support | Opinion
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
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Mayor hoping for ‘best possible future' after Nashville General Hospital CEO resigns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — 'Fraud, wasteful spending, and policy violations' are words being used in connection with an audit of Nashville General Hospital. Almost immediately after the report was published, the longtime CEO of the hospital resigned. Now, the question remains: what's in store for the future? In the 21-page report, details of what's been happening behind hospital doors were revealed, bringing to light allegations of fraud, wasteful spending, and policy violations, all happening at the executive level. 'Thank you for all you've done, and I appreciate you. I wish you the best in the future, and for me, this is still another phase of my career,' Dr. Joseph Webb said in a video on his Facebook page, announcing his resignation and reflecting on his years in leadership. PREVIOUS: Nashville General Hospital's CEO resigns Shortly after the internal audit into Nashville General Hospital, Webb shared he was leaving. The decision left many questions swirling about what is next for the hospital. 'How do we create the best possible future for Nashville General Hospital?' Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell asked as he addressed the situation to the media during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 28. The audit detailed several allegations, including how the hospital overpaid its valet service company by more than $200,000. In another section, the audit found a doctor who did not work for the hospital or contracted with the hospital was allowed to set up an office, use staff and supplies, and bill patients privately, all while never paying anything to the hospital itself. | READ MORE | 'From the day I took office, I knew a better Nashville General Hospital was possible, and I remain committed to forging a path to create one. We'll be inviting a number of key stakeholders into a process that's already well-modeled to walk that path together,' said O'Connell. As the mayor remains hopeful, he also addressed the future of Meharry Medical College, one of only a handful of historically Black medical schools in the U.S. Nashville General Hospital serves as the teaching hospital for Meharry students. It's an active partnership that has been in place for nearly 30 years. 'After taking office, we learned more about the stark consequences of the lack of a professional services agreement between Nashville General Hospital and Meharry Medical College, and a key step toward that brighter future includes the execution of a successful PSA with Meharry as part of a renewed and restored partnership,' O'Connell said. O'Connell also discussed plans for the future to find out who will fill the CEO position. Right now, it's unclear how soon Nashville General Hospital will find a replacement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
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Nashville General Hospital's CEO resigns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Dr. Joseph Webb, who has served as the CEO of Nashville General Hospital for the last decade, announced his resignation Thursday. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → In a statement to his Facebook page, Webb posted a video announcing his resignation and reflecting on his years in leadership. Webb said he was honored to be a part of a team that brought Nashville General Hospital from a hospital with 'difficulties' caring for some patients to one with national recognition. 'This has been an honor — to be a part of a team that has created a safe haven of an environment for individuals who did not have the ability, otherwise, to pay for their healthcare and are able to come to Nashville General Hospital and gain access to care that is ranked high[ly] in the quality standings,' Webb said in the video. Nashville General Hospital serves as a principal education center for Meharrry Medical College. The president of Meharry Medical College, Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, sent News 2 the following statement: 'I welcome a new day of collaboration and cooperation between Meharry Medical College and Nashville General Hospital. I look forward to a relationship of mutual trust that will serve as the foundation for a new Nashville General Hospital where Meharry students and residents can be fully trained and where all Nashvillians can receive the high-quality care they deserve. I am especially grateful to Mayor O'Connell and the members of the Hospital Authority Board for their visionary leadership in putting the needs of the Nashville community above all else.' ⏩ The announcement came the same day as the Metro Office of Internal Audit's findings were released on an investigation 'alleging fraud, wasteful spending, and policy violations occurring at the Executive Level of Nashville General Hospital.' Ultimately, the office called the allegations 'substantiated.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
