Widely Varying Reactions To Levy Resignation; What's Yours?

Readers, what do you think? Please comment below. Meanwhile, here are responses from Paul Levy's own blog, Running A Hospital:

David Harlow (of Healthblawg fame) said...
Paul --

Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Your work at BIDMC (including this nice little blog of yours) has certainly shaken things up — in a good way — both at BIDMC and in the local and national arenas.

I hope to see you on the road.

-- David

Anonymous said...
good riddance. This hospital needs someone who brings it to a first rate patient care but also first rate research and education center. What you have ignored. Also, a place that discrimination is a thing of past.

Bob Coughlin said...
Paul,
You turned the organization around. You are truly an amazing person. Thank you for your contributions and leadership in the healthcare industry. We owe you a great deal of gratitute and thanks.

From his interview with WBUR:

Reached by WBUR, Levy cited his desire for new challenges:

I realized that I don’t currently have the level of enthusiasm I need to continue in the job, that I had accomplished what I wanted to and it was time to move on. Simple as that.

The state’s largest health care workers union last year called for Levy’s ouster after the Beth Israel board fined him for “judgment mistakes” in regard to a personal relationship he had with a female employee.

Levy told WBUR that controversy is behind him and did not play a role in his resignation decision.

From the health care workers' union:

"When we called for Paul Levy's resignation, it was because under his leadership, there were serious issues of care; cuts to services; and misuse of funds entrusted to BIDMC as a public charity. Paul Levy also engaged in conduct that deprived workers of their fundamental rights and evidenced disrespect of women. The caregivers of BIDMC work hard to deliver quality care and they deserve a CEO who will live up to the values of this venerable institution. Levy has made the right choice to heed our call to resign and should leave without any additional compensation from BIDMC."

- Veronica Turner, 1199SEIU executive vice president