CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — It is not a surprise to anyone who reads the local news that the area’s mega health system — Adena Regional Medical Center — has come under intense scrutiny over the last several months for allegations of sexual misconduct, an illegal brain surgery, vindictive terminations, and frivolous spending.
In fact, some have related the never-ending saga to that of the 2020 popular Netflix series “Tiger King,” where a dysfunctional zookeeper captivated audiences with his antics. Here, though, things are arguably more twisted: a Chief Executive Officer who spends millions of dollars like it is his personal toybox in an attempt to silence competitors, terminated employees, and sue anyone who says anything remotely critical of his management style.
Among the odd behavior recently: an executive has been convicted of soliciting online for someone to murder his boss who oversees the hospital; amid hundreds of layoffs and terminations the Chief Executive spends millions on cushiony benefits such as an exclusive, private V.I.P. suite at Nationwide Arena to attend concerts and sporting events to the tune of nearly $500,000 a year; an all-you-can-golf country club membership for himself and others; around the clock armed bodyguards from off-duty deputies; spending millions of dollars to buy nearby land to block competitors from building; terminating more than 400 employees while pleading poverty; firing anyone who dares criticizes the hospital’s administration while offering them large sums of money to stay quiet in severance agreements; doctors admitting to doing illegal drugs, nearly a dozen wrongful death lawsuits; and that’s just within the last month.
The Health Board
On Thursday, it was announced Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine had appointed Dr. John F. Boyle to the State’s Medical Board; the board oversees complaints, investigations, licensing, and discipline of medical providers across the state. The move has come under fire by many because Boyle is a podiatrist employed at Adena, who has doctors that are under investigation by the board.
The Guardian has confirmed the powerful state board has numerous open investigations into doctors employed at Adena, including allegations that the hospital’s physicians conducted an illegal brain surgery without having proper credentials. The board, which consists of only twelve members — which includes nine doctors — has assigned investigators to dig into the controversies and allegations against doctors at Adena. Claims that the hospital has lied about their spending on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms, and hired family members and their affiliated companies to provide services to the hospital are just some of the things that the board is not empowered to look into, however, other state and federal agencies are.
Hush money
It is not publicly known how much money Adena’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Graham, has spent to silence others in what some would call hush money, however, the Guardian has spoken with several former employees of the hospital, including physicians, who allege they have been offered upwards of a million dollars in exchange for their silence and a signature on non-disclosure agreements to keep quiet about the hospital after their termination; terminations that almost always boil down to the former employee being accused of criticizing hospital administration or allegations of “leaking” information to those who do.
Sexual harassment claims
At least three doctors at the hospital are accused of sexual harassment, with one having multiple co-workers and patients say he groped them on numerous occasions. In one case, “[the doctor] sat down at his desk and unbuttoned his lab coat, his shirt was unbuttoned almost all the way down,” a woman told police. She would go on to claim that the doctor then said they had a lot in common and that both were “going through a divorce” and could “help each other.” The victim went on to tell the police, according to the report, that the doctor would continue to make unwanted advances and went as far as coming from behind her and rubbing her shoulders, and taking pictures of her body. The alleged incidents, the woman said, occurred while she worked in his office from September 2021 to April 2022.
The local Sheriff’s office has looked into the claims, but so far, none of the doctors have been charged, while two of them remain employed at the hospital. The hospital told the Guardian that they do not comment on personnel matters.
The state welcomes new appointee
While the state board continues its investigations into doctors at Adena for claims of serious misconduct, the Governor and the other board members welcome their newest member with open arms.
“Board member appointments are made by the Governor. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Boyle to the board,” the board’s media relations spokesperson said on Thursday.
“Our office defers to the Medical Board on pending investigations of physicians and to the Ohio Department of Health on all investigations of hospitals as hospitals fall under Health’s jurisdiction, not the Medical Board,” said Governor Press Secretary Dan Tierney. “Our office is confident in Dr. Boyle’s integrity, and he is not under any pending investigation of which we are aware.”
While Boyle, himself, may not be under active investigation, some worry that since he answers to Adena’s Chief Executive on the daily, Boyle’s appointment to a board that is looking into the hospital’s doctors may be a conflict.
“My understanding of Medical Board practices is that members generally recuse themselves from matters involving their employers,” Tierney added.
Boyle’s term started on Thursday and runs for four years.