The Michigan Nurses Association, the union representing registered nurses at Dickinson County Healthcare System, today applauded the resignation of hospital administrator and CEO John Schon. The nurses, who called for Schon’s termination in September, also raised concerns about Schon’s new role as a “consultant” and how the next leader will be chosen.
“It’s a huge step in the right direction for John Schon to finally step down,” said Susan Berquist, RN, who works in the Emergency Department and is the president of the MNA union at the hospital. “Nurses, other hospital employees and the community are united in working to recover from the financial damage done to the hospital under John Schon’s leadership. We hope his departure means we will all see more accountability and transparency as we move forward.”
Venable LLC, the Washington, D.C.-based company overseeing DCHS restructuring, has recommended that the DCHS Board of Trustees appoint a chief restructuring officer-interim CEO.
No details are being released about how much Schon is being paid as a “consultant” after he leaves as CEO.
“While we’re all wondering what it means, especially financially, for John Schon to take on a ‘consulting role,’ it’s urgent that our hospital have a new leader to guide our recovery,” said Berquist. “Nurses are the heart of the hospital and we would expect to have a seat at the table, along with other employee groups, during the process of selecting a new CEO who has experience successfully managing a hospital.”
During the past months of financial chaos, very little information was made public regarding why the hospital was in such bad shape. Furthermore, the hospital communicated very little with the unions regarding the potential sale – including possible pitfalls they may all have been able to work together to prevent.
