A few moments ago, Parkland sent word that John Dragovits, its executive vice president and chief financial officer, is leaving the struggling hospital. Come mid-July, he'll become the president and COO of Anthelio, a healthcare IT provider headquartered in Dallas.
The press release, of course, makes no mention of Parkland's recent turmoil and well-documented lapses in patient care. "It's not related at all," Parkland spokeswoman April Foran told me. "It's just that this opportunity became available."
Dragovits says much the same in the release:
The decision to leave Parkland wasn't an easy one. To work here every day is to be surrounded by countless talented and caring people who truly believe in the Parkland mission. I am proud of the many accomplishments that my teams have completed, and the many initiatives that are still under way. While I am looking forward to my next professional adventure, I will continue to watch with interest and support Parkland as it progresses, and gladly help in any way the Board sees fit.
As CFO, Dragovits wasn't directly involved with patient care, so it's possible that he is leaving for his own reasons. At the same time, it's hard to imagine the turmoil at the hospital, which has experienced a slow exodus of top leaders, didn't play a role in his decision.
