Troubled Vista Medical Center loses fifth CEO in three years

Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois, has lost another top leader. Daisy Rodriguez became the fifth CEO to leave the hospital in just three years when she stepped down on October 6. A CEO, or chief executive officer, is the person in charge of running an organization. Losing five leaders in such a short time is a sign that something is seriously wrong.

Rodriguez had only been on the job since early August. She was hired to serve as both CEO and chief nursing officer, meaning she handled both the business side and the medical staff side of the hospital. That is a huge responsibility, especially for a hospital already deep in trouble. Her time there lasted less than two months.

The hospital is facing two big financial problems. First, Vista has not paid its property taxes, which means it could face foreclosure — a legal process that could result in the hospital losing its building. Second, the hospital was denied 'safety net' status for the second year in a row. Safety net hospitals get extra government money because they treat many patients who cannot afford to pay, so losing that status makes it even harder for Vista to survive.

Even though Rodriguez left her role as CEO, she says she is not walking away completely. She plans to stay on as a consultant, which means she will give advice and guidance to help the hospital work through its problems. It is still unclear who will step in as the next leader. Vista Medical Center East continues to search for a path forward during one of the hardest periods in its history.