Hundreds of medical staff vote ‘no confidence’ in RiverBend leadership 

This story was updated with a statement from a PeaceHealth executive and Eugene Emergency Physicians.

Doctors at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend voted 345-25 that they do not have confidence in two hospital leaders or in the decision to replace the emergency department provider group.

The vote follows weeks of rapid fallout between Eugene Emergency Physicians and PeaceHealth, which is ending the local group’s 35-year-contract June 30 and switching to Atlanta-based ApolloMD for staffing of the emergency department beginning July 1.

PeaceHealth Oregon Chief Hospital Executive Jim McGovern and Oregon Chief Medical Officer Kim Ruscher made the decision to award the contract to ApolloMD. 

Medical staff called a special meeting Feb. 18. The next day, Chief of Staff Dr. William Emerson sent an email with a link to the “no confidence” vote in McGovern and Ruscher. Lookout Eugene-Springfield obtained and authenticated the email, voting link and results.

The ballot included two yes-or-no measures and more than 2,500 words explaining how the vote aligns with hospital governance and the medical staff’s bylaws, which outline credentialing policies and clinical accountability. 

An executive summary stated the vote was prompted in part because “the decision introduces material risk to patient safety, operational stability, workforce continuity, governance integrity and institutional reputation, and was made without transparency, medical staff input or documented operational assessment.”

Voting ended Monday night, and Emerson shared results with medical staff in an email Tuesday morning.

The vote was open to active physicians and midwives. Nearly 75% of eligible medical staff members — 367 out of 486 — participated in the vote.

These votes are how medical staff formally express their disapproval of leaders, but do not remove them from their positions or reverse any decision. In some cases — including in Virginia where physicians issued a no-confidence letter to a CEO of University of Virginia Health — the action has been followed by an executive resignation.

PeaceHealth released the following statement from Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Richard DeCarlo:

“The expertise physicians bring is deeply respected, and the concerns they raise are seen. Our focus remains on maintaining open, constructive dialogue to address concerns directly and provide clarity on our decision. PeaceHealth supports the final decision recommended by the Oregon leadership team, including Dr. McGovern and Dr. Ruscher, to transition emergency department physician management services to ApolloMD. We are committed to the long-term strength and stability required to deliver our Mission, ensuring high-quality care for our communities. We will continue to communicate with transparency and respect throughout this transition.”

Scott Williams, a physician with the Eugene Emergency Physicians, sent a statement on behalf of the group:

“Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP) is honored to have the support of our RiverBend Colleagues. Three hundred and sixty-three physicians, an overwhelming majority of the members of the RiverBend medical staff, cast votes in favor of retaining EEP as the emergency medical providers at PeaceHealth’s Lane County hospitals.”

“This truly historic decision from the medical staff shows clear unity and joins other letters of solidarity from our professional societies (Oregon College of Emergency Physicians, American Academy of Emergency Medicine), the Oregon Nurses Association, as well as nearly every other local physician group. The community has also spoken, with countless letters of support and concern to media outlets, as well as state and local legislators.”

“We hope PeaceHealth’s leadership takes into account those unified voices and reconsiders its decision. EEP wants to stay, and we believe local physician ownership and independence are vital to protecting quality patient care. EEP has been caring for this community for the last 35 years. We are your neighbors. Our children go to school here. Our family members are patients here. We still see a path forward with PeaceHealth and hope that we can continue to care for our community in the years going forward.”