Embattled Worcester hospital announces new interim CEO on its website
Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester has a new interim CEO, according to its website .
Adam Bracks is listed as the interim chief executive officer of Saint Vincent Hospital and Massachusetts Market, its website reads. No further information about Bracks was listed.
In December, the Worcester hospital's parent company, Tenet Healthcare Corp. posted a job offering for the CEO position, just 10 months after the hospital hired Denten Park as its leader.
Park is the successor of Carolyn Jackson, whose resignation was announced in a letter sent to Saint Vincent leaders and medical staff on Feb. 3.
A spokesperson for Tenant did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
The hospital has been the subject of complaints from The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA).
The MNA has had a contentious relationship with the hospital, as nurses from the association went on strike in February 2021 due to the hospital and the nurses being unable to agree on staffing levels. The strike lasted 10 months, with the union gaining support from the Worcester City Council and then-Attorney General Maura Healey.
In December of that year, the hospital and the union agreed on staffing levels and ratified a contract on Jan. 3, 2022 . Since 2023, however, the MNA has filed several complaints against the hospital.
In June, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) launched an investigation into Saint Vincent Hospital, the third in 18 months. A spokesperson for the DPH did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the investigation on Thursday.
The hospital and its parent company are also facing a lawsuit from Carla LeBlanc, a former nurse at Saint Vincent who claims she is a victim of retaliation.
LeBlanc was terminated on May 1, three months after she appeared on a podcast called Outdoor Cats , hosted by journalist Bill Shaner of the news website, "Worcester Sucks and I Love It," and Chris Robarge.
During the podcast episode, which was published in February, LeBlanc asserted that management at Saint Vincent was to blame for inadequate staffing levels that have compromised the safety of patients.
"The main concern that DPH has seen is that staffing is an issue, being able to monitor... to really be watching the heart monitors for the patients and increased pressure ulcers," LeBlanc said during the podcast episode. "Pressure ulcers are reportable events that get reported to the state. It shouldn't happen."
Three months later, LeBlanc was terminated from her job, with the letter referring to her comments made during the podcast.
"During an interview on a podcast, you made disloyal, reckless, and maliciously untrue statements attacking the Hospital and its services," the letter reads. "As a result, the Hospital has determined that there exists just cause to terminate your employment effective immediately."
LeBlanc filed a lawsuit against the hospital and its parent company on Aug. 1 in Worcester Superior Court, according to court documents which the nurses' union previously shared with MassLive.
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