This past year, Eureka Springs Hospital employees have reported harassment and violations of regulations prohibiting workplace violence from Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Cynthia Asbury, Human Resources Director Jodi Edmonson (now Interim CEO), Hospital Commission Chair Kent Turner and Vice Chair Barbara Dicks. Dicks resigned at the request of Mayor Butch Berry in mid-November.
In violation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Turner and Dicks held bi-weekly meetings with employees, frequently exchanged text messages about hospital business and met frequently regarding the employee conflicts including discussing the firing of CEO Angie Shaw.
At one point in text messages between Turner and Dicks, Turner wrote that he had given Shaw permission to fire Asbury. But then Turner and Dicks instead joined to support firing Shaw and Chief Nursing Officer Jessica Petrino in early November. Shaw and Petrino had no disciplinary actions in their employee files, and neither they nor the community have been given an explanation for the firings. Shaw said she had offered to resign earlier, and her resignation was not accepted. Both women were escorted from the hospital by police officers after being fired.
In December, Shaw and Petrino filed lawsuits claiming they were fired in retaliation for Petrino filing, and Shaw supporting, a complaint about violations of the HIPAA patient privacy laws. The lawsuits ask for back wages and to be reinstated to their previous positions.
In late November, Lab Director Tina Adams left her job joining an exodus of numerous other employees who said they left, were laid off or fired because of a toxic work environment. Adams warned the commission that the hospital was not in a good position to provide adequate patient care.
“Since the firing of Angie Shaw and Jessica Petrino, there has not been any communication or organization chart for us to follow,” Adams said. “The nurses have no contact to call in case of an emergency. Nurses have no clinical leaders to support them. This is putting their licenses on the line and the patients at risk.”
A group of current hospital employees including Shaw had met with Turner in late October to discuss numerous concerns about the behavior of Asbury and Edmondson. Employees felt Turner ignored their concerns when the commission fired Shaw Nov. 1. Following that, a group of about a dozen employees sent a letter to the commission.
“This letter is to inform you that Eureka Springs Hospital is at a crossroads and action must be taken if we want to save our hometown hospital. …Cynthia has demonstrated erratic behavior and physical intimidation of staff that have resulted in a fear of harassment and bodily harm which violates the zero tolerance for violence in the workplace policy. Staff have lost confidence in Jodi after repeated breaches of confidentiality. Staff have been retaliated against by both Cynthia and Jodi. Staff do not receive communication from Cynthia Asbury and when the rare occasion occurs where she does communicate, it is hostile, condescending, rude, accusatory, and demeaning. Dozens of staff have resigned and/or been terminated due solely to Cynthia’s treatment of them or through the wrath of her retaliation.
“The exhibition of uncollaborative, aggressive, hostile, and elusive behavior to current and former employees has resulted in not only the loss of staff, but it contributes to poor performance and revenue. Multiple providers have made it abundantly clear that they will avoid…sending their patients to ESH due to their interactions with Cynthia. Jodi and Cynthia have blatantly violated labor laws to punish staff.”
The letter alleged that Asbury was blocking the purchases of needed medical supplies. “Cynthia makes clinical decisions and ignores the comments and concerns of clinical staff, acting as an authoritarian to which she has no background,” the letter stated. “…Cynthia has instructed central supply to no longer order crutches, slings, walking boots, splints, c-collars, and knee immobilizers which have resulted in more than one patient being discharged into a dangerous situation. …All staff members, with the exception of Jodi and Cynthia, get along with and work with one another in a collaborative patient-focused team and pledge to continue doing so to save the hospital. Staff have zero faith that reconciliation can occur and would like to request the termination of CFO and HR director while giving 100% support to CEO Angie Shaw.”
At a Nov. 11 city council meeting, 20 people including present and former employees with the hospital spoke about or submitted written statements outlining concerns about a toxic and hostile work environment, inadequate supplies for patient care and the bullying by Asbury, Edmonson, Turner and Dicks.
After Petrino’s firing, Emergency Room Director Joy Kennedy, a ten-year veteran of the hospital, left Nov. 5 stating she was being bullied that day by Dicks. Kennedy told city council she had been exposed to a hostile and toxic work environment for some time.
“Cynthia Asbury, CFO, has had a negative impact on the hospital since her employment,” Kennedy said. “We’ve had an unbelievably high staff turnover. Her unwelcoming behaviors have affected me mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Her lack of respect, communication, and transparency has caused me great stress.”
Council heard numerous complaints again on Dec. 9. Aldermen had pointed questions about the commission’s firing of Shaw and Petrino. Turner said several times he took full responsibility for the problems. Alderman Harry Meyer said Turner should resign, and Turner agreed. However, that was blocked by Mayor Butch Berry who said Turner was leading efforts to correct deficiencies identified at a recent Medicare survey.
At a Dec. 16 hospital commission meeting, local physician Dr. John House, a former medical director at the hospital and past member of the commission who is the owner of Health First Clinic, offered to take over management of the hospital. At the time the commission seemed to indicate it was considering his proposal but needed to get past problems with the failed Medicare survey. More recently at December workshops, the hospital commission indicated that they now have a “higher caliber” of employees and House’s proposal did not contain enough details.
It appears that despite numerous documented complaints, nothing has been done regarding removing the employees and hospital commissioners who created the hostile work environment, said Liz Collins, RN, who was compliance officer and held other positions before her position was eliminated in April 2024. Collins said it’s shocking that the two women whose behavior had created the toxic workplace were allowed to remain. Edmondson was promoted to Interim CEO, and Asbury was put on a 60-day performance improvement plan.
Collins questions how commissioners continue on this path after hearing concerns voiced at two hospital commission and two city council meetings. No one at those meetings spoke in support of Asbury and Edmondson.
“Commissioners ask yourself, ‘Can that many people be wrong?’” Collins asks. “The answer is ‘no’ and what’s the common denominator? Cynthia and Jodi.
“I listened to commission workshops held in December and the commission believes they have made great progress, and they may have when it comes to what’s on paper in response to the deficiencies and plans and policies, but the internal operations remain the same with Jodi and Cynthia. If Cynthia and Jodi remain and they don’t consider Dr. House’s proposal or other managing companies, nothing will change. The hospital will continue to decline and be forced to close.”
Turner, incoming Hospital Commission Chair Sandy Martin, and Mayor Berry did not respond to a request for comment.