November 7, 2009 in Letters

Rockwood CEO excluded

The Spokesman-Review

Rockwood Clinic, a financially viable organization in this region for 80 years, is suddenly being sold to a national conglomerate. Will this benefit the Spokane region? Only time will tell.

What I find shocking is the fact that this happened while the CEO, Dr. Kevin Sweeny, has been on leave of absence since Jan. 1, 2009, and continues on leave until Jan. 1, 2010. How can an interim CEO and board of directors make such a major decision as selling a multimillion-dollar institution without the input of its leader?

I know Dr. Sweeny personally; he is a well-respected leader and member of the community with the highest of integrity. He has not been allowed to take part in any discussions or even communicate with the staff or physicians of Rockwood while he has been on leave. The shareholders should be ashamed of letting this happen in such a sudden manner, without his input, and they should be ashamed for allowing Dr. Sweeny’s integrity to be questioned by Sacred Heart.