Already subject to a state investigation, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, on the Cherry Hill campus of Seattle-based Swedish Health Services, is now being investigated by federal authorities as well, The Seattle Times reports.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is leading the new investigation.
The investigations were launched after a Feb. 10 Seattle Times report uncovered concerns related to surgeons pushing for increased patient volume and a culture of intimidation at SNI. Swedish's then-CEO, Anthony Armada, stepped down in the wake of the report, as did Johnny Delashaw, MD, the chairman of neurosurgery at SNI.
Guy Hudson, MD, the interim CEO of Swedish, sent a memo to staff Wednesday regarding the newly launched investigation from the U.S. Attorney's Office. "As with all regulatory reviews, we will cooperate fully to ensure that we are living our values and upholding the highest standards," he said in the memo, according to the Seattle Times.
A Swedish spokesperson told the Seattle Times she did not know the scope of the federal inquiry or if it was a criminal or civil investigation. Swedish did not immediately respond to a Becker's request for comment.