<p>Joe Woodin, the ousted president and chief executive officer at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, took a pay cut when he came to the Vineyard 13 months ago.</p>
The ousted president and chief executive officer at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital took a pay cut when he came to the Vineyard 13 months ago.
Joe Woodin, who had previously headed the Gifford Medical Center in Vermont, disclosed this week that his base pay on Martha’s Vineyard was $400,000, about 10 per cent less than his base pay at his previous job.
“I did take a cut in compensation when I came here,” he told the Gazette by phone. “And I was happy to do it because I wanted the job.”
Mr. Woodin was abruptly fired on June 5 by the hospital board of trustees. Former chief executive officer Timothy Walsh has returned from retirement to take the helm on an interim basis while hospital leaders begin a search for a new CEO.
There has been little explanation for the firing, although hospital board chairman Timothy Sweet emphasized last week that there had been no malfeasance. Mr. Sweet also said Mr. Woodin had put in a request for a compensation increase, which triggered a review process. He confirmed that Mr. Woodin had a five-year contract but declined to state his salary.
Private nonprofit hospitals, including the Vineyard hospital which is an affiliate of Partners Healthcare, are required to report the salaries for top executives on their U.S. tax returns (Form 990), among other financial information. The forms are public but there is an approximate two-year time lag in reporting the information. As a result, the latest publicly available information for the Vineyard hospital is for 2014.
In that year Mr. Walsh was CEO and was earning $449,036 in base pay. The other top executive at the Vineyard hospital, Dr. Pieter Pil, chief of the medical staff, earned $488,482 in base pay.
In 2014 at Gifford, Mr. Woodin was earning $443,734 in base pay and other compensation of $45,370, the Form 990 for the Vermont medical center shows.
Speaking to the Gazette by phone this week, Mr. Sweet reiterated that he could not discuss Mr. Woodin’s salary, on the advice of hospital attorneys. He also declined to say how much Mr. Walsh is being paid as an interim or how much the firing of Mr. Woodin will cost the hospital.
“The cost to the hospital will be what we feel is a generous separation package for Joe for sure . . . and the cost of a search for a new CEO,” Mr. Sweet said.
He said if all goes according to plan, Mr. Walsh will stay until the end of the year, when a new CEO will be in place. He confirmed that trustees are in the process of forming a search committee again, and said he anticipates that an executive search firm will be hired as was done with the search for Mr. Woodin, although he could not say if it would be the same firm. ”We are now questioning if we did everything well [in the recent search for Mr. Woodin] and we want to be sure to do it right,” Mr. Sweet said.
The longtime board chairman also expressed regret at recent events. Among other things, the sudden ouster of Mr. Woodin sparked an outcry in the community that continues to simmer. Some of the disaffected are mid-level hospital employees who felt Mr. Woodin had begun to transform a long-entrenched internal culture that resisted change. The employees are reluctant to speak their views openly, out of worry about keeping their jobs, the Gazette has learned.
Mr. Sweet said every attempt is being made to assuage concerns. “Mistakes may have happened in this process,” he admitted. “One of them was the use of the word vision got misconstrued,” he said. In a written public statement last week, hospital trustees attempted to explain the ouster by describing a loss of confidence and disparate visions between the CEO and the board. This week Mr. Sweet sought to clarify terms.
“The vision we spoke of was a different vision in governance and not a vision of where the hospital is going today,” he said. “I do regret the word vision got taken out of context and we did a bad job using that word.”
He concluded: “There is no difference in the vision we had and the vision Joe had — we both want to be the best hospital we can be. It was a different vision of governance .... I hope in time we can clarify more.”
Financially, the hospital remains comfortably in the black, despite a drop in operating profit for the last fiscal year, according to a summary provided by Mr. Sweet at the request of the Gazette. Information about the hospital’s finances was historically included in the hospital’s annual report, which is circulated to the public through the Island newspapers, but that practice ended after 2012.
According to the summary, total operating income for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2016 was $77.3 million, while operating expenses were $77.4 million, resulting in an operating loss of $101,250. However, the loss was more than offset by income on investment of $3.8 million, the summary shows, resulting in a bottom line excess of revenue over expenses of $3.7 million.
For the 2015 fiscal year the hospital had total operating revenue of $76.1 million and expenses of $73.7 million, ending the year with an operating gain of $2.4 million. That year the hospital lost $2,406 on investments, resulting in a bottom line excess of $2.4 million.
Mr. Sweet said the decline in operating profit for fiscal 2016 was due to the departure of Dr. Mark Scheffer, a popular orthopedic surgeon who had begun to bring business to the hospital and became ill. “That hurt the bottom line, but it has begun to come back,” he said, noting the addition of two new orthopedic surgeons.
A spokesman for Partners Healthcare this week spoke about executive compensation in general, noting that it is subject to the strictest standards in a rapidly changing industry.
“The market for senior health care executives is a national one,” said Rich Copp, senior vice president for communications at Partners. “And we must provide competitive wages and benefits in order to contract with the best individuals at a time when health care is undergoing sweeping change.”
He also said that Partners “has developed a well-defined performance-based system that allows us to offer senior executive compensation that is competitive with other academic medical centers and hospitals in Massachusetts and across the nation.”
Board members at Partners hospitals do not receive compensation, Mr. Copp said.
Comments
So, he was in Vermont for 20
I Can't EvenSo, he was in Vermont for 20 years with rave reviews, as evidenced by the comments on-line from the community surrounding Gifford Hospital; he took a pay cut to come here; and his firing was not, as previously stated, the result of a difference in vision. So, why? What was the point? And what are they looking for in the next CEO?
sounds like the firing of
peculiarsounds like the firing of Comey... I wonder if it is because Woodin didn't pledge his loyalty to Sweet and the rest of the board...
Seems to me that the problem
Jan C EdgartownSeems to me that the problem is with the Board - not with the CEO or the doctors & staff who come, or Windemere. The Vineyard community needs immediate changes at the Board level. Meanwhile, Tim Sweet needs to explain a "different vision in governance".
The way this was handled was so unprofessional. Woodin was fired by Tim Sweet before the Board actually voted to fire him. Then the Board had to be called back to take a vote. As usual, there is something else going on here... and it's at the Board level.
Looks like Sweet is hoping
Islander TooLooks like Sweet is hoping that acting "normal," as though this situ were normal, will make the controversy settle down quietly. Somehow I don't think it will. The Gazette's tepid headline, "Tensions Linger," is a way of saying this tempest in a teapot will soon blow over, after the "tensions" stop "lingering." Basically they are just continuing to give Sweet a platform put forth this oil-on-troubled-waters glop. Hey, Gazette, still waiting to hear what Woodin has to say.
This seems like a revisit to
Misaligned Board Culture EdgartownThis seems like a revisit to what occured in 2015-2016 between the Board Chair and the then President at Suffolk University in Boston. Same apparent dynamics of a Board Chair who believed his role ( and that of the Board) was to manage the institution directly and the role of the President was to do what she was told by the Chair. The problem seems to me that there is a significant misunderstanding of the fiduciary oversight ( and not direct management) of a strong willed Board Chair and that of the Chief Executive. The Board and its Chair may need to do a little self reflecting on its role and duties before they bring on another new CEO and misalignment on goverance vision surfaces once again. For the betterment of the hospital and community, perhaps Mr Sweet would consider stepping aside as Chair and let fresh and unbiased viewpoints from a new Board leader reset the culture of our island hospital.
Make this stop already. good
islander oak bluffaMake this stop already. good lord Joe seems to have quite the ego to keep going to the press.
Joe has the ego???
Vineyard girl 51 EdgartownJoe has the ego???
YES JOE! he is the one who
islander Oak bluffsYES JOE! he is the one who keeps calling the press.
God complex. He and his
Marsha ChilmarkGod complex. He and his sidekick thought they couldn't be touched. They were wrong.
“The vision we spoke of was a
Bruce Nevin Edgartown“The vision we spoke of was a different vision in governance and not a vision of where the hospital is going today.” In other words, who's in charge, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board. Where is the boundary drawn distinguishing the things over which the CEO is executive from the things over which the Chairman is executive and the CEO merely a reporting manager.
I support the Board's
If I Were a Calf EDGI support the Board's decision. It seems that Mr. Woodin has an inline with the Gazette who continue to kick the dead horse. The hospital is moving forward and will be better for his departure. The community and beyond will continue to receive the same outstanding care that's it's been getting long before JW was "called" to take a 10% pay cut and move to the island. JW has a lot of "fans" that are mostly NOT hospital employees. These fans rant about petitions and demonstrations which I've seen none of. They love to hear themselves talk and see their words in print. In fact, they're a lot like JW in that regard. The chances he'll be reinstated are less than zero. Everyone should just enjoy their Summer and watch out for those mopeds. ESPECIALLY whilst driving in the roundabout.
Mr. Sweet's "vision of
If I were a sheep OBMr. Sweet's "vision of governance" and related actions around the Woodin termination have rightfully brought a focus on the Board's leadership. It is possible many of us can enjoy our summer and watch out for mopeds whilst at the same time holding the Board accountable.
Yes! I neglected to mention
If I Were a Calf OBYes! I neglected to mention that in my previous post. Whilst agreeing with the decision of the BOT I also believe that the handling of such was completely botched. However, that in itself does not constitute reinstating this nano-second CEO. I hope the BOT's governing vision is adequately layed out for the next CEO and he/she actually listens and comprehends his/her role.
"They love to hear themselves
Islander Too"They love to hear themselves talk and see their words in print. In fact, they're a lot like JW in that regard."
I am not aware of ever having seen any of Woodin's words in print before this mess came up.
And he hasn't actually said very much since then.
Who is Woodin's "sidekick" pray tell.
Just an observation, Mr.
Let's Talk Numbers OBJust an observation, Mr. Woodin's "insufficient" income is still 100% more than any one of the Board members. Also, the hospital is short about 9 providers right now. THAT should be the real concern not this "poor" egomaniac losing his job.
Um....how do you have access
Ken OBUm....how do you have access to incomes of all the Board members? I'm guessing the top lawyer for Partners, Brent Henry, who sits on the Board, earns more than Woodin, as just one example of my doubting your claim. Unless you can cite facts please don't hurl mud at Woodin.
Who's hurling mud? I only
Let's Talk Numbers EDGWho's hurling mud? I only mention facts. Board members are not compensated for sitting on the board. I imagine Mr. Henry has a sizable income but it's not due to his position on the board. Do your own research, ok?
Right on ... I have heard
KGH EdgartownRight on ... I have heard that the working environment this guy created was not collaborative and positive. People in exec ranks usually get fired for good reasons (except of course if you work for Trump).
So because it's a voluntary
KGB OBSo because it's a voluntary board Mr. Numbers is looking for a voluntary CEO? His original comment makes even less sense now. I think no matter what CEO Woodin made Mr. Numbers would gripe. The hit team targeting Woodin seems to be out in force today.
This kind of action is
Elliot Kronstein WTThis kind of action is inexcusable.
What a travesty. What are Seeet's qualifications to run a hospital?
A black eye on an already bad hospital culture.
Tim Sweet manages a seasonal
Ken VHTim Sweet manages a seasonal golf course. I see the links to running a hospital. Hopefully the Board corrects course and tees up an independent review. Sweet shanked the termination of Woodin and now he's trying to chip out of a nasty sand trap of his own doing. The Board should stop puttering around and initiate new governance now, not later. Bad golf puns intended.
Mr Sweet does not run the
Rick EdgartownMr Sweet does not run the hospital he is just on the board
Mr. Sweet is Chairman of the
Ken OBMr. Sweet is Chairman of the Board. And he was the one who fired the CEO. And he had issues with hospital governance under Woodin. It sure sounds like he runs things.
Looks like it's time to put a
arnie reisman vineyard havenLooks like it's time to put a major protest together and surround the hospital with signs saying BRING BACK JOE, THE BOARD MUST GO!
Hilarious! Good luck. You
Timkron WTHilarious! Good luck. You will fail and he will never work there again.
Joe was a loved and forward
Resident EdgartownJoe was a loved and forward looking and thinking executive. Tim Sweet has a bad reputation, a not loved or forward looking or thinking board chairman. What an embarrassment to this island ,that proves, once again, how power corrupts. This firing was done in a draconian way, beyond anything civil or decent. Shame on the whole board.
I agree. It's time for active
Fred EdgartownI agree. It's time for active protest. Our initial action should be a major protest at 5 Corners in Tisbury, not at the hospital.
The hospital is private property and Sweet will call police to eject us from the property...and we cannot protest on the road fronting the hospital. A peaceful protest on the sidewalk will get our message out. The messages is simple "Fire Sweet, bring Joe back." I suggest Saturday, June 24th. Let's talk this up.
Great idea. This Board doesn
Naomi MVYGreat idea. This Board doesn't get it. We need to be heard. How do we get big attendance? And I think you're right. Tim Sweet would have the cops remove everyone. This Board doesn't represent Vineyarders.
Great idea. This Board doesn
Naomi MVYGreat idea. This Board doesn't get it. We need to be heard. How do we get big attendance? And I think you're right. Tim Sweet would have the cops remove everyone. This Board doesn't represent Vineyarders.
Here we go again!! Something
joyce edgatownHere we go again!! Something else to protest!!! Wonderful.
I am deeply disappointed in
John Brannen WEST TISBURYI am deeply disappointed in our local press and the journalists who write for them. In our prestigious national newspapers journalists are bravely standing up to power and demonstrating the power of the press to find the truth, uncover lies, deceit and the abuse of power. Shouldn't we expect the same of our local press? This whole episode smells, and it would seem to me it wouldn't take a Maggie Haberman or a Glenn Thrush to get at the truth. While we are organizing a protest at the hospital, let's boycott the papers until they start doing their jobs!
The Vineyard Gazette has done
Ken Oak BluffsThe Vineyard Gazette has done multiple articles on this debacle. I give them kudos. The hospital is a tight knit community and few leaks have come out. The Board has circled the wagons and keeps to its simple talking point. And since I'm guessing Woodin has retained counsel to negotiate a settlement and it explains why he's quiet now. I think this is more than a press reporting issue. It's a citizen issue. I like the idea of public protest. One idea is to protest at the hospital on the day Mr. Sweet uses his golf course for the charity event. Let him hold the event there, but line the hospital entrance with a show of citizen support for Woodin and contempt for the current Board.
Seems like a demonstration at
Jason ChilmarkSeems like a demonstration at the hospital would be disruptive to the patients receiving care there. Wouldn't this be counterintuitive if your concern is truly about the community and the staff there?
Jason, the charity event is
Betty Island girlJason, the charity event is on a weekend. It's a quieter time. Regardless, I agree a protest is in order. Under your vision, there would never be a time. Let's do it!
The golf tournament is on a
Jason ChilmarkThe golf tournament is on a Monday. SO many people don't understand the hospital environment. Even if it WAS on a weekend the patients don't go home for two days and come back. It's often the only time their families can visit their loved ones. Several ancillary departments have weekend hours: the lab, X-ray, infusion, the dental clinic, dialysis and some doctors have weekend hours too. Instead of disturbing patients and their families why don't you just sent Joe a "Thinking of You" card and a Tim an "I Don't Like You" card. Seriously, leave the patients be.
The Gazette wrote five
Fifth Generation ChilmarkThe Gazette wrote five hospital stories last week as this news broke, plus an editorial. And another story this week. All this in less than two weeks and still you are "deeply disappointed"? How much more do you want sir? And since you are so condescending why don't you fill the rest of us in on the truth. Clearly the lawyers have descended and shut everyone up. The story will shake free in time.
I find this entire situation
John VermontI find this entire situation very troubling, not just for Joe and his family but also for the hospital and the community it serves. The BOT at MVH has terminated a CEO, who came to MVH after more than 17 years at Gifford. During Joe's tenure at Gifford, he took a hospital that was bleeding money and behind the times to one that became a leader in healthcare and a nationally recognized facility, operating with a surplus each and every year of his tenure. Removing Joe from his position is an enormous mistake, as it eliminates the opportunity for the island to experience the same improvements that the Gifford community now enjoys. The island community needs to demand more of the MVH BOT. This termination has negatively impacted the reputation of the BOT and MVH. I don't believe recruitment or retention will be easy to accomplish.
I support the Board's
Visionary VHI support the Board's decision. They handled it poorly but the right person is no longer affiliated with MVH.
"the right person is no
Blinded by the light OB"the right person is no longer affiliated with the hospital." I'm confused by your sentence -- are you saying Mr. Woodin was the right person and now it's good he's gone? Me thinks you're not so much of a visionary. Bring Wootin back and shuffle the Board. I know a nice golf course some of them can retire to.
That's exactly what I mean.
Visionary VHThat's exactly what I mean. The right person is gone. Looking forward to new leadership.
We will NEVER hear the truth
No Reason Oak Bluffs, Ma.We will NEVER hear the truth surrounding Tim Sweet's decision (and ultimately the rest of the Board) to fire Joe Woodin. The island community was given a couple of "pat answers" WHICH WERE NO REASONS AT ALL! Mr. Walsh was brought in immediately. The summer will begin and the island will take on a new face. Mr. Sweet & HIS Board are not going to give us anymore explanation than what has already been said...NOTHING. The island community feels somewhat helpless to reverse this decision not having a forum other than the newspapers to voice concerns and organize. Summertime on the island will consume our attention. People threatening to withhold donations will hurt our hospital operations. The hospital doctors are now employees of the hospital and have been silenced by their superiors as well as the rest of the employees. Tim Sweet and HIS Board are most likely hoping this scandal all dies down by the 4th of July. They answer to no one. The iron fist is alive & well folks, and not going away anytime soon. We lost a progressive, dynamic, and competent CEO at our island hospital for no reason.
Glad to hear the hospital has
Darrell King EdgartownGlad to hear the hospital has been operating in the black, and I hope that continues despite 'generous separation compensation' packages and the like. My daughter, who has lived and worked on the Island for a number of years, unfortunately contributed to that positive cash flow a couple of years ago when she thought she might have Lyme. She showed up, was given a dose of doxy, and sent home with an outrageous bill for the ER because of some 'rule'. The Hospital, after much wrangling, was kind enough to put her on a 'payment schedule' which took her months to pay off. Not a decent way to treat your own!
By the way, why aren't folks required to give their real names when they comment, as one would in the printed media? Where's the accountability?
The guy they fired did a good
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownThe guy they fired did a good job, but lets face it he wasn't worth 1/2 mil a year, no one is for that kind of position. It's not exactly real work. No wonder it's a NON PROFIT, there's nothing left after they pay these inflated salaries. Better to hire more good nurses and doctors,after all this isn't a money tree it's a HOSPITAL
You don't think being CEO of
Anne Bennett Oak BluffsYou don't think being CEO of a hospital is "real work"? I do, and I don't have any affiliation with the hospital except for using it. I don't know what the comparison is with other hospitals such as Falmouth, Hyannis or Nantucket, but check out those salaries before you comment on what the pay is at MV.
When you fire someone like a
Simple solution:Board should be removed from future hiring/firing of CEOs VHWhen you fire someone like a CEO there should be a paper trail of all the times the board met with the CEO to discuss problems or issues of vision. There should be a paper trail of trying to get on the same page. But we are told this wasn't malfeasance. If it's not that then you can't fire him. Or not without several attempts to get things straight first. You typically don't make a snap decision in this regard. It makes people think the reasons are corrupt. Now we are clearly a very unattractive hospital and community for other would be CEOs. They will want guaranteed contracts with money up front. Or they will want to know the hospital has a totally new board.
Whichever way the truth lies,
Al Randolph TisburyWhichever way the truth lies, I WILL NEVER DONATE ANOTHER DIME TO THIS HOSPITAL!!!! Hear that, tin cup rattlers?
Clearly Mr. Woodin was an
Concerned VHClearly Mr. Woodin was an outsider and didn't understand who the untouchables are. Perhaps he came too close to upsetting one of those powerful people. Was his performance even discussed at the last board meeting two weeks prior to his dismissal? Exactly. Perhaps the truth is too ugly to come out. Maybe it's time to just bury the hatchet, move on, and try to find peace.
I wonder what kind of
JoshI wonder what kind of potential CEO will pack up and move to the island knowing the last guy got canned only a year into the job.
Keep up the great reporting
Peter BrannenKeep up the great reporting
Are any of the Board's future
Ron EdgAre any of the Board's future meetings open to the public, or are they all closed door, backroom affairs? And when does Chairman Sweet rotate off the Board? I can't see MVH recruiting a quality CEO as long as Sweet is in charge.
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