CLEVELAND — More changes are coming to the leadership of MetroHealth in the aftermath of the sudden firing of CEO Dr. Akram Boutros last month.
On Tuesday, MetroHealth confirmed that Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Jane Platten will be departing at the end of the year by mutual agreement.
“Jane worked incredibly hard to advance the mission of MetroHealth for more than six years, and we thank her," new MetroHealth CEO Dr. Airica Steed said in a statement to 3News. "Going forward, we’re making organizational changes for the new year that enable us to continue and expand that mission and our focus on health equity in this community.”
Platten leaves MetroHealth after working under Boutros since 2016. She oversaw the system's Administrative Services Division, which includes behavioral health and correctional services, human resources, government and community relations, facilities and space management, public safety, marketing, communications, and governmental contracting.
Previously, Platten served as chief of staff for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office as well as director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Boutros' firing, which occurred one month before his planned retirement, came after the MetroHealth Board of Trustees claimed he authorized more than $1.9 million in bonus payments to himself over a four-year period beginning in 2018, without disclosing those payments to the board. Boutros believed the bonus payments fell in line with company policy, and has filed three lawsuits against MetroHealth. The first lawsuit against Metro's board accuses its members of "wildly reckless, illegal, and damaging actions."
Last week, Boutros filed an 84-page lawsuit claiming that MetroHealth's board has cost him $8 million in lost compensation, another $20 million in future job prospects, plus tens of millions for anguish. A third lawsuit was filed by Boutros on Tuesday, appealing the decision to fire him.
The fallout from the divorce between MetroHealth and Boutros was a major reason why one member of the Board of Trustees recently resigned.
On Dec. 8, Terry Monnolly resigned from the board, citing health reasons. The 74-year-old businessman had been on the board for 17 years and his term was scheduled to run until 2028. But in an email sent by Monnolly to the MetroHealth Board of Trustees on November 30, he made it clear that he was also unhappy about the board's decision to terminate Boutros just over a month before the former CEO's planned retirement.
"I have been considering the Board's action on 11/21/2022," Monnolly wrote. "I disagree with the action that was taken on that date. It is my belief that the Board had authorized Dr. Boutros to take all actions that he took. To terminate him based on the belief that he would somehow take money from MetroHealth in the last month of his term, does not set well with me."
Earlier this month, Cuyahoga County Council unanimously passed an amendment to its 2023 budget that places additional safeguards on taxpayer subsidies going to MetroHealth. The hospital system traditionally receives roughly $32 million a year from the county in 12 automatic monthly payments, but under the new parameters, only the first three will be automatic this year while Council must approve the final nine months on a quarterly basis.