WellStar CEO fired
by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@mdjonline.com
September 04, 2010 04:42 PM | 29232 views | 131 131 comments | 335 335 recommendations | email to a friend | print
MARIETTA - WellStar Health System's Board of Trustees fired Dr. Greg Simone "effective immediately" from his position as WellStar president and CEO in a surprise move late Thursday.

"It was just time for a change," said lawyer Randall Bentley, chairman of the 18-member board.

Bentley refused to explain why Simone was fired.

However, a statement from WellStar announcing Simone's firing also stated that Bonnie Wilson, WellStar's executive vice president and general counsel, had received notice earlier this week that her employment agreement will not be renewed either.

Bentley said he did not know when Wilson's employment agreement expired.

A former partner with the Marietta law firm Brock Clay, Wilson was hired as WellStar's in house counsel by former WellStar CEO and internist Dr. Robert Lipson.

Bentley said the vote to terminate Simone, after a four-hour meeting Thursday night, was unanimous with the exception of two abstentions from board members who are also employed at WellStar as physicians.

Jim Budzinski, WellStar's executive vice president and CFO, was appointed acting president and CEO while the board prepares to conduct a national search for Simone's replacement, Bentley said.

Simone was appointed CEO of WellStar in 2007 following the death of Lipson, who was tragically killed in a November 2006 motorcycle crash while driving home from work.

Simone founded Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., in 1980, growing the practice into about 25 cardiovascular physicians. WellStar purchased the practice about two years ago.

Simone was a close personal friend and colleague of Lipson. Both completed Kennesaw State University's Executive MBA program together in 1997.

"We appreciate the contribution that Dr. Simone made to the health system and we look forward to what the future brings under the leadership of Jim Budzinski and our wonderful leadership team," Bentley said.

Simone, who reportedly has a compensation package of more than $700,000, lives in Keeler Woods, close to Kennestone WellStar Hospital, with his wife of 40 years, Terry. An accomplished pianist and gourmet cook, friends have often called Simone a "true renaissance man."

With 11,500 employees, WellStar operates five hospitals in the counties of Cobb, Douglas and Paulding. The health system, whose flagship is Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, is one of the largest in the nation with revenues of $1.5 billion.
Share This Article |
similar stories

WellStar chief of physicians Lopes resigns | 10 months ago by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@mdjonline.com

Former CIO 'shocked' by WellStar claim that his firing was by 'mutual agreement' | 10 months ago by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@cherokeetribune.com

WellStar announces exec appointment, acquisition | 2 months ago by Katy Ruth Camp
krcamp@mdjonline.com

WellStar fires back at ousted CEO | 10 months ago by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@mdjonline.com

WellStar says top employee resigns | 10 months ago by Marietta Daily Journal staff

Comments
(131)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
wellst nurse12345
|
September 15, 2010
If wellstar has money enough to pay such large severance amounts to Simone and attorney they do not need the employees money to fund the wellstar foundation.It would appear that the only life well lived is Dr Simone's.He is truly a dishonorable,unethical individual whose real character is revealed.Thanks for the enema,I mean legacy
Reply
ex wellstar nurse
|
September 15, 2010
After working at wellstar cobb hospital for 6 years I now work at PIEDMONT Hospital,and the difference between the two places is like night and day. Wellstar COBB hospital is truly a wasteland of health care that resembles third world care more than a modern facility.Speaking english is not a requirement for the nursing staff and the understaffing is legendary in the metro area.Nurse managers and administrators are unsophisticated,are less interested in patient care than in promoting and marketing deceptive and fabricated satisfaction surveys.Moreover,Dr Simone was considered by many of the staff as well as physicians as an incompetent bully without a strong intellect unimaginative,and without a vision other than an intense marketing program willing to spend millions to cover up the poor state of the healthcare delivered at their hospitals
Reply
ex wellstar midmanag
|
September 15, 2010
After 7 years of employment I left wellstar because of the culture that developed after Dr Lipson's death.I observed significant tension and outright hostility between the Wellstar administration and the non employed wellstar physicians that was clearly an explicit part of Dr Simone's philosophy.He wanted patients directed away from very well respected and competent physicians who were longtime supporters of wellstar hospitals and facilities, but were independant and uninterested in being purchased.In deed Dr Simone himself would concede at times that many of the non employed physicians were superior and more talented than the wellstar employed physicians.Dr Simone appeared much more interested in complete control and physician owernship than assembling the very best physician staff
Reply
wellstar therapist
|
September 15, 2010
The problem is not that there has been too much discussion regarding Wellstar and Simone the problem is that there has been a complete absence of transparency,and disclosure regarding the details of Dr Simone's abrupt,late night dismissal.Why has the press,local public officials,and concerned citizens not insisted on answers from Wellstar,the management company of 5 public hospitals.The "cesspool" you refer to ANON2394 is Wellstar,Simone,and the others who have looted money that should have been directed to improving healthcare quality at the local hospitals.PLEASE MDJ DO NOT LET THIS STORY GO UNTOLD!
Reply
FrankRN
|
September 15, 2010
There are way to many leaders in Wellstar. It makes me sick every day to get a communication describing who go promoted or what new vice president has been employed. We are in the trenches doing the work. Not some high priced physician who does not know jack.
Reply
Anon2394
|
September 15, 2010
Thank you Retired WellStar RN. This thread should be shut down for its ridiculous posts that have NO basis in any fact and are purely speculation.

This isn't about Dr. Simone or the article anymore it's about bashing WellStar.

MDJ - be responsible and shut down this cesspool of fiction and get back to reporting the news.

"Comments now closed" please!
Reply
cmom
|
September 14, 2010
I have beena wellstar employee for many years and have never given a DIME to the wellstar foundation and think that all you fellow underpaid comrades are idiots! Do you now realize how they have exploited you while they receive their bonuses and cushy paychecks? Wake up!! You can't be fired for not donating and you are not gonna get a raise anyway!!!
Reply
Retired Wellstar RN
|
September 14, 2010
I have been following this story and the ensuing comments with interest for over a week. I don't know what happened that resulted in Greg Simone's firing by the Board. But I do know that this trail of comments has deteriorated and I must speak up. To my knowledge the reason for the firing remains known only to the Board and Dr. Simone. It seems that he is becoming the scapegoat for every disgruntled employee, for applicants that didn't get hired and for every imperfect outcome. While I agree that the buck stops at the top, no single person can realistically be blamed. Hateful and cruel things are being said about a man who, whatever else he may have done, was a fine and caring physician in this community for many years. Back in the day, when we were all much younger, Greg Simone slept night after night in a recliner at the bedside of a gravely ill 36 year old Atlanta firefighter. I was there. And I know what I saw. Greg Simone is not evil. He is human.
Reply
cobb nurse
|
September 13, 2010
Not surprised that Simone was involved in illegal activity.The hospital system could not have made so much money and at the same time the hospitals and care deteriorating without someone looting the cash register.Nice legacy,Simone.....a life well lived!
Reply
douglas nurse
|
September 13, 2010
Agree with other nurse comments regarding the total lack of respect that staff has for administration particularly Simone.First of all he cared nothing about Douglas Hospital,and it would appear that his only interest in the other hospitals was they had more money that he could steal.On the rare occasion that he visited Douglas Hospital he seemed more of a huckster,snake oil salesman who was trying to pull something over on you. Sort of creepy,actually
Reply
hospital aide
|
September 13, 2010
I encourage all wellstar employees to boycott donations to the wellstar foundation until the wellstar board discloses the truth about Dr Simone's firing, and rescind his ridiculous severance package.For Dr Simone to accept such a large amount of money if nothing else demonstrates that he is shameless and and has no integrity.He is a despicable individual worthy of condemnation.
Reply
staff md
|
September 13, 2010
Dr Simone was nothing more than your typical sleazy corporate executive who cared only about acquiring power and lining his own pockets.He clearly cared nothing about the thousands of employees of wellstar,the patients,or the community are he would not have engaged in behavior and activities that most certainly were illegal.If he was not engaged in criminal activities the complete truth regarding his termination would have been revealed.
Reply
RN WELLS
|
September 13, 2010
Wellstar under Dr Simone accepts no criticism.It is considered disloyal.They dismiss employees who attempt to point out deficiencies in the quality of care delivered,especially if the remedy will cost money.The management demands that in surveys assessing the hospital's quality metrics that the services provided be given the highest grades by staff or risk discipline.There exist no legitimacy in the surveys perfomed by wellstar as regards level of satisfaction...they are a complete fabrication.
Reply
kenny nurse
|
September 13, 2010
You ca not provide constructive criticism regarding wellstar for fear of retribution,possibly dismissal.
Reply
no one is perfect
|
September 12, 2010
MRSA, originally a healthcare acquired infection, is now an infection you can get in the community. My friend's son got it from playing in a lake. Unfortunately, over time, some bacteria survive after treatment with an antibiotic and these flourish and create a larger number of bacteria that are drug resistant. Wellstar has been aware of the number of MRSA and c-diff (a kind of diarrhea) infections at its hospitals and has started new cleaning procedures which have cut these numbers significantly over the past year. Before you bash Wellstar, look out there and see that even the very best hospitals have patients with these infections in their beds.

I, too, am a Wellstar employee. Wellstar is not perfect, but I agree, that if someone is unhappy enough to bash (not constructively criticize) the hospitals on this website, they don't deserve a paycheck from the organization.
Reply
second the motion
|
September 12, 2010
I second the motion that Mike Graue be CEO. He appreciates people and understands operations. He and Candice Saunders are exceptional leaders.
Reply
need to say
|
September 11, 2010
Everyone's an expert, also known as a critic.

This stream of hatred makes me sad since Kennestone is an exceptional hospital. It treated my grandma, my mom and dad, me, my daughter and hundreds of thousands of community members. Without it, we'd be in bad shape given how much our area has grown.

Don't run it out of town with this "what about me?" attitude.
Reply
Dolemite81
|
September 11, 2010
This non profit does plenty for the community - millions annually - and yet everyone is ready to bash it. Most of these comments are nothing more than just flat of vent sessions - which serves little purpose to the discussion.
Reply
ROCKDOC
|
September 11, 2010
It takes an exceptional human being to be able to provide healthcare, whether you are a nurse, doctor, therapist, or tech. Nothing we do is easy. It can be stressful, rewarding, exciting, depressing all in the same day. Hard work should be rewarded. You can make excuses for Wellstar all you want and say that this is how business works, but is it? Just because most other health systems in this country may put business principles above human ones does not make that the correct approach. Wellstar will only stand out by creating an environment which is friendly toward employees. The employees will then create a friendlier environment for patients. This is where places like Mayo and Cleveland Clinic stand out. It doesn't take a CFO to figure that out. Go back to the drawing board, Wellstar.....go back quickly. You need to invest in your employees FIRST then the profits will come the right way.
Reply
former patient
|
September 10, 2010
Agree with blogs about the Wellstar hospitals,particularly kennestone and Cobb,and their high post operative infection rate.I was visiting a friend in the kennestone hospital about 2 months ago and approximately one half to two thirds of the patient rooms had isolation precautions.One of the staff nurses informed me that the hospital has an extremely high rate of drug resistant infections,complicated by the fact that most of the patient rooms are double occupancy.This surprised me in that I have been hospitalized at Piedmont hospital on a number of occasions and all the patient rooms are single occupancy.At the kennestone hospital patients even have to share the same toilet, and shower with other patients,The Board of Health should close them down.For the citizens of cobb whose tax money pays for these facilities this is a disgrace
Reply
*All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, spam, and links to outside websites will be rejected.