Broward Health elects new board officers

On Wednesday, Broward Health, the county’s largest public hospital system, voted in new board officers — the same people who commissioners approved last month in an election that took place with questionable public notice and no discussion.

Last month’s rushed, latenight election came as the first move by a governing board trying to turning the corner on transparency and good governance. This time, a vote took place after the public was notified and as part of the monthly hospital board meeting agenda.

Ray Berry became chair, Nancy Gregoire vice chair and Stacy Angier secretary-treasurer. Members at large are Christopher Ure, Andrew Klein and Marie Waugh. One board seat remains open. The sevenmember board appointed by the governor oversees key leadership positions within the public hospital system’s executive team. Berry noted that going forward, new officers can be selected at any monthly meeting.

Broward Health leadership also spoke out to clarify controversy over the validity of changes approved last month to the bylaws, which are the formal rules that control the board’s actions, powers, and oversight of the health system. Klein, the board’s previous chair, had left last month’s meeting midway, calling a vote on the bylaw changes illegal. He did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

Broward Health general counsel Linda Epstein said on Wednesday that advice she gave to the board last month about its ability to vote on bylaw changes and sufficient public notice was “true, appropriate, and legal — then and now.” She also said the new bylaws are effective and no new vote is required.

CEO Gino Santorio said changes to the bylaws, which board members spent four

months discussing before last month’s vote, were needed to be consistent with Florida law. Some of the biggest changes in the bylaws approved at last month’s meeting involve the code of conduct that board members must follow, the timing of when officers are elected, the process in which committee chairs and members are selected, and rules around replacing direct board reports and investing surplus funds.

Dr. Gary Lehr, a surgeon at Broward Health North, addressed the board and put the questions over the bylaw changes and officers election into perspective: “No matter what happens here, in walls of the hospitals things don’t change. On a day-to-day basis, the nurses and doctors do what they need to do to take care of patients.”

Following the re-election of officers, the board on Wednesday also approved committee appointments of board members, discussed the financial health of its five hospitals, and signed off on the appointment of Heather Havericak as Chief Executive Officer for Broward Health Medical Center, the largest facility within the Broward Health public safety net hospital system.

Havericak, a nurse, has been at Broward Health for 14 years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer.

“You have done a remarkable job and I’m sure you will continue to grow that place,” said Gregoire, the board’s new vice chair.

Santorio told the board that four of Broward Health hospitals exceeded budget in the new fiscal year that began July 1. “Overall we are seeing a strong performance coming out of the gate for the fiscal year. We are looking forward to a challenging, but successful 2020.”

“No matter what happens here, in walls of the hospitals things don’t change. On a day-to-day basis, the nurses and doctors do what they need to do to take care of patients.”

Dr. Gary Lehr, surgeon at Broward Health North

JOHN MCCALL/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Broward Health board chairman Andrew Klein and vice chairman Christopher Ure are now board members at large after new officers were voted in during the August board meeting.