West Virginia University officials fired a $75,000-a-month consulting firm Friday, saying the consultants' scathing report about WVU's health science division and affiliated hospitals was full of errors and misunderstandings.
West Virginia University officials fired a $75,000-a-month consulting firm Friday, saying the consultants' scathing report about WVU's health science division and affiliated hospitals was full of errors and misunderstandings.
The nine-page report, by R&V Associates of Pittsburgh, alleged that "serious," "intolerable" and "alarming" problems at WVU hospitals put patients' lives at risk.
The consultants cited the unexpected deaths of two children and an adult. They also criticized WVU for serious shortages of general surgeons, anesthesiologists and heart surgeons that forced hospitals to send patients to facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh.
WVU said R&V reached false conclusions, in some cases, and the university already was working to fix other problems brought up in the report.
"The report is replete with errors," said Fred Butcher, interim vice president of health sciences. "The process they used was flawed. We're not at all convinced we were on track [with the consultants] to move in the right direction."
Butcher said the university plans to hire another outside consultant that "has experience with academic medical centers."
R&V Associates, which has been paid $321,789, plus expenses, for its work since March, has said the report is accurate.
The consultants issued a statement Friday afternoon, saying a confidentiality agreement with WVU limited what they could say about Butcher's response to the report.
"While we regret that we won't have the opportunity to continue the important work of analyzing, improving, reorganizing and restructuring these programs - it is vital and imperative that such work continue," the consultants said.
WVU selected R&V Associates to evaluate WVU's Health Sciences Center and hospitals in late February. R&V, whose supporters included outgoing WVU President Mike Garrison, state Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey and WVU neurosurgery department chief Dr. Julian Bailes, had a six-month contract worth $450,000 that was set to expire at the end of August.
Butcher said Friday he was unsure whether the consultants would be paid the contract's full amount.
R&V managing partner Vince Deluzio delivered the nine-page "interim report" to Garrison on May 19.
WVU refused to release the document until Friday, saying there were numerous inaccuracies. Garrison directed Deluzio to revise the report, but Deluzio declined to do so.
Butcher, who issued a point-by-point rebuttal of the consultants' report Friday, said R&V relied too much on unsubstantiated information.
The consultants interviewed 14 of WVU's 360 faculty members before delivering their first report - not a sufficient number to get a fully accurate account of WVU's health sciences division and affiliated hospitals, Butcher said.
"They talked to a very skewed section of the faculty," Butcher said. "Many of the issues were things we were aware of and trying to fix."
R&V's report makes a vague reference to the unexpected deaths of two children "involving pediatrics and anesthesia" at WVU hospitals.
The consultants also mention an adult patient who died after undergoing a cardiac procedure without a heart surgeon standing by as backup. Another patient in a similar situation survived after being flown by helicopter from Morgantown to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to the report.
West Virginia University officials fired a $75,000-a-month consulting firm Friday, saying the consultants' scathing report about WVU's health science division and affiliated hospitals was full of errors and misunderstandings.
The nine-page report, by R&V Associates of Pittsburgh, alleged that "serious," "intolerable" and "alarming" problems at WVU hospitals put patients' lives at risk.
The consultants cited the unexpected deaths of two children and an adult. They also criticized WVU for serious shortages of general surgeons, anesthesiologists and heart surgeons that forced hospitals to send patients to facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh.
WVU said R&V reached false conclusions, in some cases, and the university already was working to fix other problems brought up in the report.
"The report is replete with errors," said Fred Butcher, interim vice president of health sciences. "The process they used was flawed. We're not at all convinced we were on track [with the consultants] to move in the right direction."
Butcher said the university plans to hire another outside consultant that "has experience with academic medical centers."
R&V Associates, which has been paid $321,789, plus expenses, for its work since March, has said the report is accurate.
The consultants issued a statement Friday afternoon, saying a confidentiality agreement with WVU limited what they could say about Butcher's response to the report.
"While we regret that we won't have the opportunity to continue the important work of analyzing, improving, reorganizing and restructuring these programs - it is vital and imperative that such work continue," the consultants said.
WVU selected R&V Associates to evaluate WVU's Health Sciences Center and hospitals in late February. R&V, whose supporters included outgoing WVU President Mike Garrison, state Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey and WVU neurosurgery department chief Dr. Julian Bailes, had a six-month contract worth $450,000 that was set to expire at the end of August.
Butcher said Friday he was unsure whether the consultants would be paid the contract's full amount.
R&V managing partner Vince Deluzio delivered the nine-page "interim report" to Garrison on May 19.
WVU refused to release the document until Friday, saying there were numerous inaccuracies. Garrison directed Deluzio to revise the report, but Deluzio declined to do so.
Butcher, who issued a point-by-point rebuttal of the consultants' report Friday, said R&V relied too much on unsubstantiated information.
The consultants interviewed 14 of WVU's 360 faculty members before delivering their first report - not a sufficient number to get a fully accurate account of WVU's health sciences division and affiliated hospitals, Butcher said.
"They talked to a very skewed section of the faculty," Butcher said. "Many of the issues were things we were aware of and trying to fix."
R&V's report makes a vague reference to the unexpected deaths of two children "involving pediatrics and anesthesia" at WVU hospitals.
The consultants also mention an adult patient who died after undergoing a cardiac procedure without a heart surgeon standing by as backup. Another patient in a similar situation survived after being flown by helicopter from Morgantown to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to the report.
Butcher said WVU investigates all unexpected deaths.
The hospital investigated one pediatric surgery case three years ago that prompted hospital officials to make changes, Butcher said. Another case also is being investigated, he said. Two other cases were examined, but officials determined that no medical errors were made.
The consultants cited an "alarming deficiency" of heart surgeons at WVU that "put West Virginia residents at serious risk." The shortage forced Monongalia General Hospital, which has a joint venture with WVU hospitals, to divert about 10 patients a week to hospitals in bordering states. WVU also refused patients and sent them to out-of-state hospitals, the consultants found.
Butcher said WVU runs a high-quality heart surgery program, and the university is "actively and aggressively" recruiting cardiothoracic surgeons.
"Until those slots are filled, it would be irresponsible to admit patients we can't serve," Butcher said in his response to R&V's report. "Please know that patients who come to WVU are not at risk under our care."
The consultants directed much of their criticism at the WVU School of Medicine's anesthesiology department, citing "serious leadership and productivity issues." Salaries rose "significantly" while productivity plunged, according to the report. The department expects to finish the year with a $14 million deficit.
Butcher said medical school officials are aware of the anesthesiology department's problems. Higher salaries were needed to attract high-caliber physicians, he said. WVU also has entered negotiations to hire a new chairman for the department, Butcher said.
The report alleges that WVU's Ruby Memorial Hospital twice had to shut down its pediatric surgery unit and send patients to other hospitals because the lone children's anesthesiologist went on vacation. "This is intolerable," the consultants wrote.
Butcher disputed the allegation.
He said hospital records show that no children were diverted to other facilities. Two new children's anesthesiologists are expected to start work this summer.
The consultants also alleged that no graduates of U.S. medical schools - only foreign nationals - were enrolled in WVU's anesthesiology residency program for physicians in training.
Butcher responded that 13 out of 22 medical residents were foreign nationals.
At WVU's Health Sciences Center, the consultants said faculty members and administrators were confused about the division's mission, goals and strategic plans.
The report also criticized WVU's medical research efforts, noting that the university ranked 96 out of 108 medical schools by that measure in one study.
Butcher directed R&V Friday to return all documents and data collected from WVU during the three-month evaluation.
"We are not backing off the need to look at ourselves and examine our weaknesses," Butcher said, "but we need to take a brief timeout here."
To contact staff writer Eric Eyre, use e-mail or call 348-4869.
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I am more worried about the surgeons that they suggested...who really wants a Pittsburgh hospital's cast-offs or lefovers? who knows if they are any good or not but I guess since we have hit rock bottom with CT surgery, it really doesn't matter, does it???