As noted here yesterday, hospital CEO Vi Colunga was placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday evening, per a 3-2 vote of the Board of the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District in closed session. Those who voted in favor of the leave for Colunga are Board members Dr. Chris Fagan, Brad Summers and Kathy Bauch; those opposed were Board President Ron Peavy and Bill Speyers. As for what prompted the vote to place Colunga on a leave, Peavy tells KBHR, “There are just some concerns that people have expressed about the hospital district, and areas where we can improve.” The leave is paid and, per Peavy, indefinite–and, he adds, “I personally feel that there are other options, but the majority did not feel that way.” Colunga’s leave was immediate, following the announcement of the closed session decision, and, for the time being, day-to-day operations of the hospital are being overseen by CFO Rudy Shutta. The Board for the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District will reconvene on Tuesday, December 22, with closed session scheduled to begin at 5pm, at which time they will determine who will assume Colunga’s duties during her paid administrative leave which, again, is indefinite.
