Shreveport, La.-based Willis-Knighton Health System COO Charles Daigle tendered his resignation, according to a statement published by KTBS 3 ABC.
In his resignation statement, Mr. Daigle said, "My role at WKHS was to stand for decisions that were always in the best interest of the health system and its patients as well as ensuring the employees and physicians had a voice in decision making of the organization. This I did."
Here are nine things to know:
1. Mr. Daigle's announcement comes about a week after the health system's 13-member medical executive committee wrote a letter to the board of trustees calling for the resignation of President and CEO James Elrod.
2. The letter notes Mr. Elrod's inflexibility to evolve with a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, which they felt made him a liability. Specifically, the physicians cited his "failure to fully embrace the transition to a new information system, inflexibility in responding to the rise in Medicaid [and] failure to appreciate the importance of actively managing the care of hospitalized patients."
3. The physicians reportedly wanted to replace Mr. Elrod with Mr. Daigle or another hospital executive. The health system's board, however, voted to keep Mr. Elrod in his current roles.
4. A previous KTBS 3 report stated that Mr. Elrod reportedly called for the firing of two Willis-Knighton Bossier (La.) Health Center officials, adding to growing fissure between him and the health system's physicians, an action contradicted by a hospital spokesperson.
KTBS 3 reports that Mr. Daigle refused to fire the Willis-Knighton Bossier officials, although his resignation statement did not mention specific incidents leading to his decision to leave.
5. A few hours prior to Mr. Daigle's resignation announcement, Mr. Elrod sent a letter to the medical staff stating that he and the board have a succession plan that involves "a nationwide search for a senior executive who will join our team, learn our systems, our values and our community, and become the lead candidate for chief executive officer upon my retirement."
He also wrote that he will solicit the views and opinions of the medical staff, adding that "debate and discussion will continue, and we will listen to many voices. But it is important to remember at all times that our common bond and dedication to our mission is stronger than our differences."
The letter does not mention when Mr. Elrod will retire.
Editor's note: This article was updated on Oct. 13 at 9:12 a.m., to include more information from Mr. Elrod's letter to medical staff members discussing the succession plan.