Springfield (Vt.) Medical Care Systems sought to reassure state officials it has its finances and management under control after Gov. Phil Scott voiced concerns about the health system last week, according to the Valley News.
Mr. Scott sent a letter to SMCS Jan. 4 outlining his concerns about the system's financial position amid leadership issues and staff concerns. He asked health system officials to create a detailed care plan and highlight how state officials can be of assistance to the system.
In his Jan. 9 letter to the governor, SMCS Board Chairman George Lamb said "all options are on the table" to improve the system's financial prospects. He also noted the institution has hired an interim CFO and is actively searching for ways to recover the $8 million to $10 million SMCS needs to become financially stable, the report states.
"We have identified a long list of potential actions. Some of these financial improvement opportunities can start quickly. Others will take a bit longer, so that we can continue to assure the proper care of patients and fulfill our regional healthcare obligations," Mr. Lamb wrote.
Mr. Lamb said SMCS, which recently finalized a management agreement with Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Resources on Jan. 8, is in the process of appointing an interim CEO and will do so "in the coming days," according to the report.
SMCS has faced several challenges in recent months, including failing to pay vendors on time, low employee morale and questions from community members about Quorum's expertise on managing the system. The hospital system's CEO and CFO also abruptly departed from the organization in December.
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