Doctor airs concerns (6/28/04)

A radiologist unhappy with the management of Jay County Hospital and angered by not being allowed to speak to the hospital board took his complaints to the county commissioners this morning.

“I’ve seen the hospital essentially go downhill in every regard,” Dr. Jay Veenendaal, Redkey, said this morning, aiming his criticisms at Cardinal Health System and the board of trustees. “Dozens of physicians have left.”

Veenendaal, who provided services to the hospital through Jay County Radiology, said the hospital administration’s handling of a new contract to provide those services was tilted in favor of a Cardinal-related group in Muncie.

Since May 25, Radiology Associates of Muncie has provided radiological services.

“Did they handle it like the ER thing?” asked Commissioner Milo Miller Jr., referring to a board decision to bypass a Jay County firm when contracting to staff the hospital’s emergency room.

“No,” said Veenendaal. “Worse.” The decision on the radiology contract did not go through the medical staff for review, which the emergency room decision did, he said. “This is not the way things should be done. With the ER at least there was a panel of physicians to review things.”

Commissioners sympathized with Veenendaal for not being allowed to air his concerns at last week’s hospital board meeting and were critical of the hospital board for its heavy use of executive sessions.

“They never discuss anything (in public sessions),” Miller said.

“I sat there better than two hours and got gaveled down when I intended to speak,” said Veenendaal.[[In-content Ad]]