A jury awarded a Kansas emergency physician $29 million for his lawsuit claiming he was wrongfully terminated by the emergency room staffing company he worked for after voicing concerns about the organization's business practices, according to KCUR News.
Here are five things to know:
1. Raymond Brovont, MD, was employed by subsidiaries of Dallas-based EmCare, a physician staffing company. He was staffed at Overland Park (Kan.) Regional Medical Center and Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Mo., which are both owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.
2. Dr. Brovont argued in his lawsuit against EmCare that the company fired him after he raised concerns that a single physician was made to cover both the regular and pediatric ERs at Overland Park Regional Medical Center from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. each day — a decision made by EmCare. Dr. Brovont said the move left the ERs dangerously understaffed and affected patient care.
3. The lawsuit stated staffing issues increased with the opening of the hospital's pediatric emergency room in 2016, prompting Dr. Brovont to file a complaint with his supervisors in September 2016. However, no staffing changes were made.
4. The lawsuit stated that after Dr. Brovont issued the complaint, his supervisors were "furious at him" and said he would be terminated unless he resigned. Dr. Brovont refused to resign and was fired in January 2017.
5. A spokesperson for EmCare told KCUR News the company plans to appeal the verdict. An Overland Park Regional Medical Center spokesperson noted the hospital was not involved in the litigation, stating all of its programs "meet the stringent quality and safety standards of both The Joint Commission and American College of Surgeons, and we are proud of the dedication of our physicians, nurses and support staff to provide high-quality, safe and compassionate care."
To access the full report, click here.