Leaked email sent by Director of Rideout Memorial Hospital in California exposed scandals and corruption

“Fremont-Rideout Health Group” better also known as “Rideout Memorial Hospital” director resigned by a global email exposing major scandal with in the hospital administration. With in 10 minutes of the email being posted the hospital server was taken down and the email is removed by deletion. This message was from an anonymous source.  Please make the public aware of this corruption in Marysville California as the hospital is funded by the public for the public and is a non profit hospital that is supposed to serve the sounding communities. 

Message is as followed:  

To all,

I feel that I need to explain some issues before things are said and I am no longer able to defend myself against the rumors or gossip or the false information.

First, I would like to officially state that after 35+ years of working in Emergency Departments around the country, I feel that Rideout Emergency Department is composed of some of the most caring and compassionate staff and providers I have ever had the pleasure of working with in an ED. The nurses in this ED go to great lengths to help provide nursing care that normal or traditional ED nurses would not even consider. The providers in our ED clearly demonstrate that they value and respect the care that they and the nursing staff provide to help improve the status of their patients. The providers at Rideout take personal interest in the care provided and should be acknowledged for such. The efforts demonstrated and were evident to me when I interviewed in late January. Thus for the sole reason of my respect for these skilled clinician (nurses, techs, ward clerks, PA’s, NP’s and Physicians) is why I came here and why I have stayed at the organization.

But over the course of these last five months, my belief in an organization is willing to do what is not only correct and legal but what is ethically correct is no longer present. To help such dedicated nurses and providers within the ED provide the best care possible and to facilitate the healing of a fellow human being, my job is to remove any and all barriers that do not allow such healing. After five months of working at Rideout Memorial it has been made clear to me that my vision of facilitating the best care is not shared with leadership of this organization. This leadership includes, but is not limited to the CEO, CFO, CNO, and several other key leadership positions. While the Board of Directors have approved the plan to make the needed corrections to do what is morally and ethically correct, the leadership of this organization have mislead, misinformed and even falsified information. They have become barriers and instigators in doing not only what is against the written action plan, but become the barriers themselves to the implementation (CNO and MAO having battles for control instead of doing what is correct for the patients, CFO refusing to approve positions that the Board of Directors have already agreed to, CNO talking ill of physicians with nursing staff then speaking of transparency and professionalism in the same conversation, etc.)

Due to the simple lack of professionalism starting at the top of the leadership chain I feel I can no longer be a part of this leadership team. 

· Over the last five months I have worked long hours and fought many battles to gain the needed resources and tools that this ED needs to help these skillful clinicians provide the best care possible. But with the inept lack of leadership, in-fighting, providing false information to regulatory personnel, misstating information to staff, talking negatively about physicians in the presence of front line staff, resorting to acts of intimidation, behavior that is both unprofessional and even hostile along with the use of words as acts of humiliation from the nursing leader is no longer acceptable. 

· The CNO boasts that she is transparent – transparent with her instructions of a Nursing Director to not inform a newly hired nursing unit manager that his first day will be the supervisor’s last day. Transparent as in hiding the details of the regulatory situation from myself until I have moved across three states only to hear the full details of the SIA. This individual speaks of poetry and inspiration only to speak in derogatory terms about the physician leadership. Transparency is a word used frequently but never really seen in her behaviors.

· This CNO takes credit for achievements that she had no direct influence or even the slightest action of involvement. She does not give recognition when it is due. When something fails, the CNO does nothing to provide support or take on a leadership role other than point out any errors and places blame on individuals – even if not appropriate or unjustified. 

· I have witnessed the CNO claim to being an “ED Nurse”, an “OB Nurse”, a “Labor and Delivery Nurse”, and even an “ICU Nurse” but I have yet to find where she does have essential training, basic foundation or background in which she is qualified as a bedside nurse in any of these areas. This individual states that she knows the role of the ED RN – yet makes foolish and irresponsible decisions that no ED trained RN would even consider. 

· The CNO makes demands and rules with such an iron fist and uses the fear of intimidation to those that report to her – that she is not willing to listen or even consider expert opinions or suggestions. This self-proclaimed expert is the main reason that nursing has taken on so many inefficiencies of documentation, processes, and policy specifications. Due to her poor leadership, which is nothing but reactionary – which she is the first to point out that she does not do – will lead to the downfall and demise of the professional nurse at RMH.

· Finally, and personally, I have been the brunt of multiple negative comments, remarks, and discussions in the presence of others including those that I supervise or during a nursing leadership meetings made by our CNO. Recently and in her previous positions around the country, she has been accused of behavior that is not appropriate for a nursing leader of any organization – let alone one that lists out “VALUES” on their webpage stating that “We will fairly and accurately represent our capabilities and ourselves”. This CNO knows none of this or behaves in this manner. While some may say that I am merely casting suspicions away from me, those that have witnessed such comments and behaviors from our CNO know this to be true and correct. 

To the Nursing Leaders of the hospital – please note that the behaviors of this Chief Nursing Officer are not typical behaviors seen and demonstrated throughout the country. This individual has a reputation, as seen the local and Bay Area newspapers, that are consistent with the behaviors that she role models on a daily basis here at Rideout. While I know many of you are considering other positions and seeking opportunities outside this individual’s leadership reach – please know that this is not the usual behavior of a nursing leader.

For the ED Staff and Providers: I wish nothing but the best for the nurses, techs, ward clerks and the providers of the ED. You are each remarkable individuals to be willing to put up with such poor leadership, yet to be able to provide such care and compassion on a daily basis. I am thankful that you are here to help provide health care to this community.

As of this email – I resign my position and hope that the behaviors and attitude of the leadership of this organization change so that individuals within this community can, for once, seek health care that is human-centered, and respectful of all individuals.

Kevin Langkiet RN, MSN
No Longer the Director for Emergency Services
Fremont-Rideout Health Group
726 Fourth Street
Marysville, CA 95901