Former Harbor-UCLA medical chief files lawsuit
CLAIM: Gail Anderson says officials damaged his reputation.
By Kristin S. Agostoni
Daily Breeze
07/08/2012
The former chief medical officer at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center alleges two county health officials damaged his reputation and exposed him to negative publicity after his abrupt exit last year from the Torrance-area hospital.
Gail Anderson, who had led Harbor-UCLA for 13 years, says in a lawsuit that he was escorted to the hospital exit "in full view of fellow physicians" and others after he was "wrongfully and without due cause" placed on administrative leave.
In the complaint filed June 6 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Anderson takes aim at Mitchell Katz, director of the county Department of Health Services, and Hal Yee, the agency's chief medical officer, alleging they leaked a news story about his departure to the Los Angeles Times and, later, the Daily Breeze, leading to coverage in other outlets.
"Local television stations picked up the story and ran spots repeating the same defamatory statements and innuendo," according to Anderson's complaint, which seeks $50 million in damages.
It alleges Katz and Yee invaded his professional and personal privacy, caused him emotional distress and destroyed his reputation in medical and other circles.
Anderson, a Manhattan Beach resident, graduated in 1976 from the USC Keck School of Medicine, according to the Medical Board of California. Before working at Harbor-UCLA, he was senior vice president of medical affairs and chief of the medical staff at Grady Health System in Atlanta,the complaint states.
The reasons for Anderson's departure from Harbor-UCLA - which surprised staff members and doctors - have not been publicly explained. Both papers had reported that Anderson was placed on leave amid an investigation. The Times, citing unnamed sources in a follow-up article, reported that authorities were probing the hospital's process of credentialing doctors and aspects of Anderson's own credential to treat patients.
His exit also came a couple weeks before a Sept. 13 inspection report found patient care problems at Harbor-UCLA that prompted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to threaten cutting off Medicare funding. Harbor-UCLA responded by instituting new policies and other changes, and CMS in March alerted the hospital that its Medicare status had been restored.
Hospital spokeswoman Julie Rees referred questions about Anderson's complaint and his status with the county to the Department of Health Services.
Michael Wilson, that department's spokesman, said Katz and Yee declined to comment on the suit. Wilson did not answer questions about Anderson, writing in an email message that "the status of personnel matters is confidential."
Richard Carroll, Anderson's Long Beach attorney, said his client has been on paid leave since last year, and has been required to remain at home during work hours.
He said he believes Anderson will soon receive word that he is terminated. He characterized a recent administrative meeting during which Anderson could respond to the actions against him as "an abomination."
Asked whether Anderson had received an explanation for his departure, Carroll said the "primary feature" offered in a notice his client received last year was insubordination. He said implications that his departure was tied to credentialing issues are "false."
Carroll said Anderson could choose to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county once he exhausts the administrative appeal process.
The complaint against Katz and Yee alleges defamation, libel, slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims.
While Anderson had received a letter advising him of a pending administrative investigation at the time he was led out of the hospital, it also said his leave was not a disciplinary action, according to the complaint.
While the action constituted a "confidential personnel matter," Katz and Yee "deliberately" and "maliciously" leaked a story to the Los Angeles Times concerning his departure, along with a second story to the Breeze, the complaint says.
Anderson's attorneys argue both officials portrayed him "as a criminal actor and exposed him to scorn and strong public criticism" from the medical community, patients and the public at large.
"I'm blaming these guys basically for going to the press," Carroll said. "There's an assumption of privacy ... until the employee waves it."
Anderson earned more than $420,000 in 2009, the Times reported last year.
Showing posts with label . Anderson (Mr. Gail Anderson Jr. UCLA). Show all posts
Showing posts with label . Anderson (Mr. Gail Anderson Jr. UCLA). Show all posts
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Harbor-UCLA medical chief placed on leave amid investigation
UPDATE: See Former Harbor-UCLA medical chief files lawsuit
Anderson earned more than $420,000 in 2009, making him one of the county’s top earners.
Harbor-UCLA medical chief placed on leave amid investigation
LA Times
August 31, 2011
The chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance has been placed on leave amid an ongoing investigation, sources said late Wednesday.
Gail V. Anderson Jr., who also is an associate dean at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, was escorted out of the hospital Tuesday, sources said. William Stringer, chief of internal medicine, was named interim chief medical officer.
Mitchell Katz, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said Anderson was on leave but would not comment on the investigation.
"This is a personnel issue. I cannot say anything else," Katz said.
Anderson could not be reached for comment.
Anderson, who started at Harbor-UCLA in 1998, is responsible for medical care and also oversees the programs for residents, fellows and medical students, according to the hospital's website. He previously worked as the acting chief medical officer for the county Department of Health Services.
Anderson earned more than $420,000 in 2009, making him one of the county’s top earners.
Harbor-UCLA is operated and owned by the county and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine.
UCLA doctor may not have followed proper credentialing procedures
September 03, 2011
By Anna Gorman
Los Angeles Times
The chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center may not have followed proper procedures for credentialing doctors at the hospital and is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.
Gail V. Anderson Jr., who is also an associate dean at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, was placed on paid administrative leave from the county hospital earlier this week and was escorted out of his office. His locks were changed and his computer secured, sources said.
In addition to possible irregularities in the credentialing of other doctors, authorities are probing aspects of Anderson's own credential to treat patients, according to the sources, who did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation.
Top medical personnel at county hospitals recently were directed to see patients by Mitchell Katz, who became the director of the county health services department earlier this year. Katz declined to comment Friday on Anderson's leave or the investigation, saying the leave is a personnel matter. Anderson could not be reached.
The credentialing process ensures that doctors can safely practice medicine at hospitals.
Under state law, physicians must be credentialed and be granted privileges at the hospitals where they work, according to the California Hospital Assn. During the credentialing process, administrators typically check with the Medical Board of California on the status of the person's medical license, run a criminal background check, verify the education record, review the malpractice claim history and check if the doctor is board-certified.
The process is "extremely important," said Dorel Harms, senior vice president of the California Hospital Assn. "You don't want somebody who has been a pediatrician all his life doing neurosurgery."
James Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Assn. of Southern California, said that it "could be a dangerous situation. You may have a person treating a patient beyond his skill set or scope of practice."
Not going through the proper credentialing process could potentially affect a hospital's accreditation, said Elizabeth Eaken Zhani, spokeswoman for the Joint Commission, the accrediting agency for Harbor-UCLA.
In the last three years, the Joint Commission has received 21 complaints at Harbor-UCLA that met criteria for review, Zhani said. The complaints were related to standards dealing with organizational leadership, the care and treatment of patients and patient rights and responsibilities.
The executive staff at the hospital was informed that Anderson had been placed on leave and that William Stringer, chief of internal medicine, was named interim chief medical officer, doctors at the hospital said.
"It was a surprise," said Adam Jonas, chair of the pediatrics department at Harbor-UCLA. "That is all I can say." Jonas said he didn't know any details concerning the investigation.
Robert Hockberger, chair of the emergency department at Harbor-UCLA, also said he wasn't aware of what county officials were investigating. But Hockberger said he believed that county was trying to "make sure that the physician leadership is strong, that they have both the authority and accountability to do their job on a daily basis."
Anderson earned more than $420,000 in 2009, making him one of the county’s top earners.
Harbor-UCLA medical chief placed on leave amid investigation
LA Times
August 31, 2011
The chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance has been placed on leave amid an ongoing investigation, sources said late Wednesday.
Gail V. Anderson Jr., who also is an associate dean at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, was escorted out of the hospital Tuesday, sources said. William Stringer, chief of internal medicine, was named interim chief medical officer.
Mitchell Katz, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said Anderson was on leave but would not comment on the investigation.
"This is a personnel issue. I cannot say anything else," Katz said.
Anderson could not be reached for comment.
Anderson, who started at Harbor-UCLA in 1998, is responsible for medical care and also oversees the programs for residents, fellows and medical students, according to the hospital's website. He previously worked as the acting chief medical officer for the county Department of Health Services.
Anderson earned more than $420,000 in 2009, making him one of the county’s top earners.
Harbor-UCLA is operated and owned by the county and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine.
UCLA doctor may not have followed proper credentialing procedures
September 03, 2011
By Anna Gorman
Los Angeles Times
The chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center may not have followed proper procedures for credentialing doctors at the hospital and is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.
Gail V. Anderson Jr., who is also an associate dean at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, was placed on paid administrative leave from the county hospital earlier this week and was escorted out of his office. His locks were changed and his computer secured, sources said.
In addition to possible irregularities in the credentialing of other doctors, authorities are probing aspects of Anderson's own credential to treat patients, according to the sources, who did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation.
Top medical personnel at county hospitals recently were directed to see patients by Mitchell Katz, who became the director of the county health services department earlier this year. Katz declined to comment Friday on Anderson's leave or the investigation, saying the leave is a personnel matter. Anderson could not be reached.
The credentialing process ensures that doctors can safely practice medicine at hospitals.
Under state law, physicians must be credentialed and be granted privileges at the hospitals where they work, according to the California Hospital Assn. During the credentialing process, administrators typically check with the Medical Board of California on the status of the person's medical license, run a criminal background check, verify the education record, review the malpractice claim history and check if the doctor is board-certified.
The process is "extremely important," said Dorel Harms, senior vice president of the California Hospital Assn. "You don't want somebody who has been a pediatrician all his life doing neurosurgery."
James Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Assn. of Southern California, said that it "could be a dangerous situation. You may have a person treating a patient beyond his skill set or scope of practice."
Not going through the proper credentialing process could potentially affect a hospital's accreditation, said Elizabeth Eaken Zhani, spokeswoman for the Joint Commission, the accrediting agency for Harbor-UCLA.
In the last three years, the Joint Commission has received 21 complaints at Harbor-UCLA that met criteria for review, Zhani said. The complaints were related to standards dealing with organizational leadership, the care and treatment of patients and patient rights and responsibilities.
The executive staff at the hospital was informed that Anderson had been placed on leave and that William Stringer, chief of internal medicine, was named interim chief medical officer, doctors at the hospital said.
"It was a surprise," said Adam Jonas, chair of the pediatrics department at Harbor-UCLA. "That is all I can say." Jonas said he didn't know any details concerning the investigation.
Robert Hockberger, chair of the emergency department at Harbor-UCLA, also said he wasn't aware of what county officials were investigating. But Hockberger said he believed that county was trying to "make sure that the physician leadership is strong, that they have both the authority and accountability to do their job on a daily basis."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)