Saint Joseph London Reaches Settlement Agreement with Federal Government - Archived

London, Ky. (January 28, 2014)– Saint Joseph London has reached an agreement with the federal and state governments to settle all potential civil claims brought, or that could have been brought, by the U.S. government or the state of Kentucky arising out of the past relationship with some cardiologists who no longer practice at the hospital.

 

The hospital reached this $16.5 million agreement, without admission of a violation of the law, in order to avoid the expense and uncertainty of prolonged litigation, and to allow the hospital to move forward.

 

“We are committed to providing the communities we serve with safe, high quality health care performed with the highest of integrity,” said Greg Gerard, president of Saint Joseph London. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement so that we can move forward.”

 

Saint Joseph London also signed a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This will formalize a process for the federal OIG to review the hospital’s procedures over the next several years to ensure compliance with all regulations governing health care. The hospital has already implemented a number of the activities outlined in the agreement.

 

“We will continue to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services as it follows our work in the coming years,” Gerard said.  “The past few years have demonstrated the resilience and commitment of the team at Saint Joseph London. Now that this chapter has closed, we are eager to move forward.”

 

In the past year, Saint Joseph London has established a new leadership team, including Gerard, as well as Chief Medical Officer Shelley Stanko, M.D., Chief Financial Officer Christy Spitser and Chief Nursing Officer Chris Schweighardt. In addition, a Corporate Responsibility Officer is now on staff at the hospital. 

 

 

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