John Harris, the CEO of Las Cruces, N.M.-based Memorial Medical Center, is retiring this month, The Las Cruces Bulletin reported Aug. 8.
Mr. Harris took the helm of the hospital in 2013 after serving as group vice president of Universal Health Services' Southern California market.
"We greatly appreciate John's decade of service to Memorial and the Las Cruces community and wish him the very best in this next chapter," the hospital said in a news release cited by the Bulletin. "The recruitment process for a new permanent CEO is underway, and we will keep our community informed when a new leader has been identified. Dennis Knox will serve as interim CEO beginning next week."
Mr. Harris' departure comes as New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez investigates Memorial Medical Center over care denial allegations. The state probe, announced July 16, is looking into reports that the hospital denied patients medical services, refused to treat indigent cancer patients and failed to screen patients for financial assistance.
If these claims are substantiated, the hospital could be in violation of the New Mexico Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act, the New Mexico Patients' Debt Collection Protection Act and the Unfair Practices Act, according to the state.
"Memorial Medical Center was surprised to learn of this investigation," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's on July 16. "We remain committed to expanding access to care and being a good community partner in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County and will be cooperating fully with this investigation."
Memorial Medical Center is operated by LifePoint Health, a Nashville, Tenn.-based company owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management.