KHMH CEO Francis Gary Longsworth is leaving at the end of this month. He joined the hospital six year ago in July of 2008, and now he's leaving, largely as a casualty of the baby deaths of May 2013. It can be argued that it wasn't his direct responsibility to modify procedures after the first three babies died, but still, he was the man at the helm and the responsibility has been laid at his feet. So, now that he's leaving, we asked him if there are any hard feelings:..
Dr. Gary Longsworth, CEO - KHMH
"When I ask for a renewal and I was asking for one year, that's was it. I mean it was denied. I was told I could re-apply, but I am not interested in doing that. Why should I do that? That's like redundancy."
Jules Vasquez
"So what's next for you?"
Dr. Gary Longsworth, CEO - KHMH
"A long break. I haven't had a proper vacation in many years, ever since I came to Karl Heusner in fact. I think the longest break I had was about 5 days at any given time, so I think it's time for a real vacation and then to see what's out there for me."
Jules Vasquez
"You'll leave harboring any bitter sweet feelings because maybe you feel you were unfairly victimized, unfairly blamed for a bacterial outbreak at the NICU?"
Dr. Gary Longsworth, CEO - KHMH
"None at all Jules. In fact I am just grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve at this hospital and greater things will be done after I am gone, believe me - because I think we have the caliber of people here that will continue to move it forward."
No successor has been named but the hospital's Board of Governors is reviewing applications. The new CEO, we have learned, will most likely come from within the hospital as there are two strong contenders from within the senior staff. A decision is expected within two weeks.
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