Discussion about the potential exit of Erlanger Health System CEO Kevin Spiegel, which had been simmering behind the scenes for weeks, broke open Thursday in a hospital board meeting, but a decision on what to do about it was kicked down the road.
Although hospital issues that were cited in a May letter from the Medical Executive Committee have improved, according to board chairman Mike Griffin, some doctors are still unhappy with hospital leadership.
The meeting, at which many thought Spiegel’s fate would be decided, didn’t last long before board members decided no vote on the CEO would be taken. Three board members weren’t present, trustee Gerald Webb said (though only one was absent and two were present by phone). The board chairman then opened the floor for others to speak.
Most of those who did speak expressed their appreciation for what the CEO has done in turning around the fiscal fortunes of the hospital, building a new children’s outpatient center and expanding the health system’s reach across the region.
Spiegel himself also spoke, touting Erlanger’s achievements during his tenure in a lengthy address he might otherwise have given to Wall Street bond agencies considering whether to issue the hospital more bonds.