Three executives at St. Joseph Medical Center are on administrative leave to avoid a conflict of interest as federal authorities look into financial dealings between the Towson hospital and an affiliated doctors' group, the hospital said yesterday.
The hospital provided little information last night about what led the three executives to step down. According to a statement released by the hospital, the federal Department of Health and Human Services contacted the hospital in June 2008 to request information "pertaining to a physician group and its financial relationship with the hospital." Hospital officials said they were cooperating with authorities in what they characterized as a "civil investigation" and said none of the issues relates to patient care.
Hospital officials held meetings yesterday to inform employees of the situation.
The names of the executives were not released by the hospital.
St. Joseph Medical Center, a 364-bed hospital, is part of Catholic Health Initiatives of Denver, a national holding company of 72 Catholic hospitals and more than 42 long-term facilities.