Chattanooga: Erlanger cuts six executive positions

photo This is a part of the Erlanger campus as shown near downtown Chattanooga on Wednesday.
photo Roger Forgey

Erlanger announced today that it has implemented a new executive structure, eliminating six executive positions out of 15.

In addition, Roger Forgey, previously Erlanger's senior vice president of regional operations and business development, has been named CEO of Erlanger at Hutcheson in Fort Oglethorpe. Erlanger assumed management of the north Georgia hospital in May.

Erlanger announced last week organizational changes were in the works after the departure of CEO Jim Brexler.

In an announcement sent out to Erlanger employees today, Erlanger interim CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson said the changes would help Erlanger achieve its short- and long-term goals.

The hospital, which provides indigent care to the Chattanooga region, has struggled to remain profitable in the last six months, posting losses of more than $6 million.

"Our primary focus is to start the next fiscal year without a deficit," Woodard-Thompson wrote in the announcement. "A key component of our labor management plan was to initiate a re-organization that includes the three-step process of reduction, stabilizing operations and revenue growth. This process required starting with a realignment of the executive team. I want to report that this process has been completed, and the results of that effort are being announced today."

Erlanger Chief Compliance Officer Alana Sullivan and Chief Legal Officer Dale Hetzler continue to report to Erlanger's board of trustees, with an indirect reporting role to Woodard-Thompson, the announcement said.

The remaining executive team will be structured into four primary divisions.

Gregg Gentry will serve as chief administrative officer; Dr. Cy Huffman as chief quality officer/chief medical officer; Britt Tabor as chief financial officer and Lynn Whisman as chief operating officer/chief nursing officer.

An organizational chart sent out by spokeswoman Pat Charles did not name the executives in charge of various departments so it was not clear which of the 15 executives had been eliminated.

What do you think? Leave a comment on Facebook.

Upcoming Events