Three executives at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., part of NYC Health + Hospitals, have left their positions.
Robert Hughes left his position as acting executive director of Coney Island Hospital to return to his role as executive director of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, a long-term care facility he previously headed. Ernest Baptiste, executive director of NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, will take over Mr. Hughes' role at Coney Island Hospital on an interim basis while continuing to lead Kings County Hospital.
Coney Island Hospital Medical Director John Maese, MD, transitioned to a new leadership role on a system-wide initiative for NYC Health + Hospitals. His role will be filled by Wehbeh Wehbeh, MD, who has served as the hospital's associate medical director.
Coney Island Hospital CNO Terry Mancher, RN, retired. NYC Health + Hospitals Corporate Chief Nursing Executive Lauren Johnston will fill Ms. Mancher's position on an interim basis.
"There have been numerous leadership changes throughout NYC Health + Hospitals in the past year as the public healthcare system reorganizes to meet the goals of its Vision 20/20 transformation plan," said NYC Health + Hospitals spokesman Ian Michaels regarding the leadership shakeup. "After an extensive review of the hospital's culture it was decided that changes were necessary to improve the patient experience at the hospital. Our goal is to provide an exceptional experience to every patient and their family and we are committed to the appropriate changes to deliver on that promise."
The health system unveiled its Vision 20/20 plan earlier this year. The plan includes 16 initiatives, such as expanding the system's outpatient services and improving patient satisfactions scores.
A New York Post article claimed the leadership changes at Coney Island Hospital were related to the controversial death of 47-year-old Grisel Soto, who died at the facility Feb. 1 after nursing staff misdiagnosed her as suffering from an overdose of synthetic marijuana.
The health system disputed those claims. "We cannot discuss a patient case. However, the changes at the hospital are not related to any individual incident," said Mr. Michaels.
NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public hospital system in the U.S., serves approximately 1.4 million patients per year.
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