Victoria, Texas-based Citizens Medical Center CEO Stephen Thames will be stepping down from his position, following negotiations Thursday morning for a mutual separation agreement with hospital board members, according to the Victoria Advocate.
The negotiations came after a physicians' meeting Wednesday night, in which physicians signed a letter requesting Mr. Thames' termination. "Mr. Thames' ineptitude as superintendent of the hospital has led to the significant erosion of the reputation of this hospital," the letter read. The physicians said Mr. Thames' leadership has led to a mass exodus of nursing and administrative staff.
Physicians at the hospital have voiced their concerns about Mr. Thames' over the past several weeks. Talk of leaving the hospital if the board didn't act started last month, and last week eight physicians threatened to take a leave of absence until Mr. Thames' contract was terminated.
Mr. Thames began at Citizens in June 2013 when he was hired as CFO, and was appointed as CEO of the hospital six months later.
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