Photo by Daniel J. Chacón
The Memorial Health System Board of Trustees is taking flak from all sides — even the cops.
The Colorado Springs Police Protective Association issued the following statement today:
The President of the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association (CSPPA), Dave Henrichsen, today commented on the recent Memorial Hospital CEO Payout:
On behalf of the CSPPA members and all city employees in general, I wish to thank Mayor Bach and all of the members of City Council for stepping up and holding the Memorial Hospital Board accountable. The stance they have taken in the past few days has certainly not been easy, but it is very much appreciated.
At a time when we are fighting the rising costs of health care, especially for our retirees, exorbitant and unnecessary expenses such as the compensation package offered to former Memorial Hospital CEO Dr. McEvoy really makes us wonder what is going on- and where the priorities for our city lie?
This city is very fortunate to have a large number of incredibly dedicated employees who have spent their entire lives, some well over 30 to 40 years, enthusiastically devoted to serving our citizens and our community. However, when they retire, they are surprised to find that they must get another job just to cover the extreme costs of their health care. Many retirees are paying upwards of $1,700 per month for continued (basic) health care!
Imagine how much good ($1.15 million) could do if it were applied to the city. As this money came from our community, it is incredible that anyone would feel it appropriate to offer such a large sum to just one individual who spent a mere 4 years in service.
We appreciate their no nonsense approach to this problem, taking serious steps to correct it, and giving all city employees the sense that finally our elected leadership is stepping up, taking care of business, and trying to do what is right for all.
Funny how the Police department is concerned about the amount of money that Memorial was going to pay out to McEvoy……what they really were saying is that THEY are going to need all of that money when the law suites start coming in for all of the kids that were assaulted by one of THEIR police officers.
Well, the Board members refused to resign, and were automatically removed today. Their public statement showed that they kept their arrogance to the very end. I’m glad they’re gone. The public outcry worked this time!!
Greedy little pigs.
Kudo’s to the CSPD and anyother public outcry towards the Memorial Board of Trustee’s. The arrogant contempt to the public by these trustee’s by their “Good Ole Boy” stance has been squished. Hopefully Dr. McEvoy, takes the car and runs, also, hopefully he doesn’t take this to court and suits the city and anyone else he wants to antogonize with his loss of $1.5 million. Thank you Dr. McEvoy for your service while there at Memorial.
Its about time the City Council did something right. CEO’s being treated differently than regular front line employee’s is whats wrong with the country today. They have possibly the easiest job in whatever organization they run. Its not hard to make a decision and tell people to make it happen. His package should be just like what the lowest person in the hospital would get. Also what is the logic of providing a company car to a person who makes so much money?
Just to clarify something, as an employee, it’s to our understanding that this money for the severance package is coming from Memorial’s revenue (the money we gain/earn from procedures/ surgeries/OP & IP appointments being paid from patients and their insurance). So I agree with the letter from CSPD, & I think it’s great that the outcry was heard, but this money, wouldn’t have been used in the city. It’s hospital money, that should go to and be used in the hospital. We are currently on pay freezes (all employees) ;our departments our on budgets, and we have to obtain approval for everything; of course no overtime; and we are being asked to eliminate our PTO first due to flexing and unpaid FMLA days for some. This severance package if reduced, could go to the departments budgets, new equipment & computer software upgrades, and of course raises for our frontlline employees. Not to mention our insurance premiums have gone up as well as the City employees.
Kudos to City Council for taking a stand against the board!!!
The MHS Board behavior shows how the medical industry has reached the pinnacle of greed. The Board members use their position on the Board to promote their own private practice, and/or to enhance their own resume. The pay-out is just the Board members feathering their own nest by over-paying (overpaying = paying even one cent more than required by the employment contract) in hopes the outgoing CEO will remember them in the future.
Glad someone is finally standing up for the 99% (ordinary people).
More boards should get similar action like this. Nice to see the right thing being done!
For the record, the severance package is $1.15M, not $1.5M.
Absolute power corrupts, absolutely – always has, always will.
That’s why we need a system of checks and balances, and why our City Council is struggling with the new Mayor’s role.
Unfortunately, the fox was watching the henhouse at Memorial.
Another example of how part-time City Council and volunteer citizen committees have failed us – it is time to consolidate City and County Councils.
And still no apology from the Board, Larry, or Memorial management on how this all played out. Disgusting! Glad the Board got fired. Kudos to the council for doing what was right this time. Would have been great if someone had the guts to stand up and say “Sorry it happened this way. We weren’t thinking. We apologize.”
Well said CSPPA!
Who are the guys in the pic? I assume MHS board, but there is no caption.
How funny to see the popo speaking against the payout. nothing to do with them excpect that would like to have thier grubby little hands all in it.
It would have been useful to pay the memorial employess a nice bonus for all thier hard work not the police dept. They get thier share of monies but gives us more.
The city is pissed they didn’t get a kick back.
greedy VULTURES.
HO HUM
LILITHIA
Larry, YOU need to do the right thing. To accept over a million dollars when your staff has not been given raises is unconscionable. To accept over a million dollars when you have forced your staff to take time off and use up their vacation time (not to mention the fact that you exempted the executive team from having to do the same) is reprehensible! To accept over a million dollars when you have wasted healthcare dollars on coaching for the executive team from the Center for Creative Leadership, wasted $100,000 on a conference at the Flying Horse venue, spent another $100,000 on the conference itself….called Liberating Structures…is unbelievable!