Chairman quits, says board failed to make needed NUMC reforms

Robert Detor has resigned as chairman of the board that runs Nassau University Medical Center, saying board members failed to make needed reforms at the financially struggling public hospital.

Detor, a veteran health care executive, gave notice to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and said his resignation is effective Friday.

Detor became chairman of the public benefit corporation known both as the Nassau Health Care Corp. and NuHealth, in January 2020.

In a letter to Curran and board members, dated Tuesday, Detor said he was troubled by circumstances at the hospital.

"I had hoped to change NHCC's course, but it has become clear to me I can no longer align my service on the board with my professional, moral and ethical standards," Detor said in the letter, which Newsday obtained.

He referred to an issue that could put the health system in a "harmful position," but did not elaborate.

"Based upon an event documented by an independent review, issues of serious concern were identified and presented to the board," Detor wrote. "The outcome of the deliberation is one I cannot accept and may ultimately haunt NHCC and the lives of people affected."

Detor said the board "chose to defer what in my opinion is considered to be a significant act of poor judgment and inappropriate behavior which undermines the integrity and moral/ethical authority of the corporation's governance and from a fiduciary perspective could place the corporation in a harmful position."

In an interview Thursday, Detor said he could not be more specific about the "event" because the matter was discussed in "executive session."

Detor said NuHealth should formally ask the state Department of Health to conduct a review of "not only the current circumstances, but the overall condition of the corporation's governance."

A spokesman for the Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Megan Ryan, NuHealth general counsel, said in a statement that "there are no pending issues that require any investigation."

Dr. Anthony Boutin, chief executive and president of the hospital, said in an email to Newsday: "I am proud to say that NHCC is in the best financial situation it has ever been in. I am offended by these baseless allegations and inferences. I am working with my team to create a strategic plan over the next year to fortify NHCC’s position in our community."

Boutin did not elaborate.

Detor frequently has raised concerns about the hospital's finances.

"If you look at the last 22 years of the corporation, the function has not been stellar in terms of the finances," he said Thursday. "I think the governance has failed the corporation."

In March, a report from consultants Alvarez & Marsal said NuHealth could not survive without taking dramatic steps including closure of NUMC's emergency room, reduction of hospital staff from 3,400 to about 300 and sale of the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale.

NIFA, a state board that controls county and hospital finances, commissioned the report.

Detor told Curran in the letter: "The board's failure to responsibly respond to NIFA's report is but one stark example of resistance to change, not understanding health care operations and in my opinion misguided entanglements by some members."

Adam Barsky, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, said in an interview that Detor "rightfully pointed out that the recommendations made by the consultant hired by NIFA were being ignored and not being implemented, which could've provided valuable savings for the hospital."

Barsky said Detor was right to note "the governance structure and the governance issues plaguing the hospital are a more serious threat to its existence than almost anything else."

Emily Mancini, a spokeswoman for State Sen. Kevin Thomas (D-Levittown), said: "The Senator is recently learning of this development and is deeply concerned about Mr. Detor’s comments and will be calling for a review by the Department of Health."

In a statement, Curran thanked Detor "for his dedication and service."

"For weeks I have been expressing concerns over NUMC’s finances," Curran said, noting her request for federal infrastructure aid for the institution.

"I must defer to the Hospital Board to address any other issues discussed during Executive Session," Curran said.

Jerry Laricchiuta, regional president of the Civil Service Employees Association, said Detor's exit was "a new opportunity to really get a good shot in the arm for this hospital and put us in a new direction."

Howard Weitzman, a NIFA director, said "the county executive has not been able to get control of the NUMC board. It seems to be running on its own."

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.