Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home Administrator Steve Vaughan resigned this week as the hospital’s administrator. The hospital’s Board of Trustees has since appointed an interim administrator.
Vaughan served as the hospital’s administrator since 2012 after claims surfaced of Medicare fraud occurring under the previous administration, Board member Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. Lawsuits continue to surround the issue.
“I think it’s been a long tough process at the hospital with all of the litigation and I think the time had just come,” Alsobrooks said about Vaughan’s resignation.
Vaughan’s knowledge of the Medicare system helped while the hospital filed litigation, Alsobrooks said.
“There’s no doubt, Mr. Vaughan’s service to the hospital was greatly appreciated,” he said.
The hospital’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Lucian Roberson, notified the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors about the change in administration in an email this week.
According to the email, Amanda Kirk will serve as interim administrator until the full-time replacement, James Williams, assumes the role in late June.
Williams and Kirk, reportedly have many years of experience in healthcare, according to the email.
Alsobrooks said that neither person has experience at Pearl River County Hospital, but are both certified administrators.
Kirk was hired on a temporary basis through the help of the Mississippi Hospital Association in order to keep the hospital running, Alsobrooks said.
Williams was unable to join the hospital staff immediately because he was required to undergo military training, Alsobrooks said.
“Williams will be a great addition because of his long time administration and military experience,” he said. “We’re excited about getting him on board.”
With the federal government changing rules for critical access hospitals, Alsobrooks said maintaining the viability of the emergency room and the hospital is going to be the top priority of the new administration.
“It’s absolutely necessary for the hospital to survive,” Alsobrooks said.
The hospital administration declined to provide further information to the Item concerning the new employees’ experience.
County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin declined to comment on the issue.