In yet another example of putting profits before people, a small hospital in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia is on the verge of losing it’s medical staff. The hospital is the only one in the rural county of approximately 6000 people. Losing qualified staff would require residents of Bath County to travel a minimum of 45 miles to Allegheny Memorial Hospital, a trip made worse in winter by the mountainous roads between Hot Springs and Low Moor, Virginia where the closest facility is located.
The potential loss of medical staff would also affect visitors to The Homestead Hotel, a major vacation spot located in the mountains.
According to some Hot Springs residents, the problem can be traced back to July, 2013, when a new hospital CEO, Jason Paret, was hired. Paret, who had previously been in Hawaii, has developed a reputation over the years of cutting staff and services in order to make healthcare facilities profitable.
The latest victim of Paret is a long-term physician, James Redington. Redington, a family medicine doctor, received his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and has practiced for 29 years. Redington, who has been in Hot Springs for much of his practice, is well known and respected throughout the western Virginia region. Redington was one of only two physicians at Bath Community Hospital who specialized in Family Medicine and his loss severely limits health care services.
Jason Paret
Paret is CEO of Bath Community Hospital, a position he’s held since summer 2013. Paret’s LinkedIn profile shows him to be a tight fisted executive, minimizing patient care while maximizing savings.
According to his LI profile, Paret was recruited in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer for North Hawaii Community Hospital. While there, Paret was responsible for fiscal services implementing financial controls system wide. He maneuvered the release of the spine surgeon who had been at the facility for many years and instead negotiated a contract with another to provide the same services — a deal which improved net revenue by only $35,000.
From July 2006 until August 2011, Paret’s LI profile boasts increased gross revenue of almost $100 million between fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2011. Observers say that the savings was achieved as quality patient care was sacrificed.
A Facebook group to save Dr. Redington’s position has been set up and it welcomes comments from anyone interested in the future of healthcare in Bath County.
Emails to Mr. Paret seeking comment have not been answered.
UPDATE: Since this piece originally ran, it appears that several more physicians have resigned in disgust over the machinations of the Board of Directors and CEO, Jason Paret. See the video here.
Jerry Nelson is an internationally known freelance writer, photographer and photojournalist. A native of Hot Springs, Virginia, he is now based in South America and continues to cover social justice issues globally.