MetroHealth CEO and President Dr. Akram Boutros fired for cause

Former MetroHealth CEO and President Dr. Akram Boutros (left) speaks at ARTSPEAK@RNCpanel at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images for NAMM

The MetroHealth board of trustees has terminated the employment of President and CEO Dr. Akram Boutros, effective immediately, according to Vanessa Whiting, chair of the MetroHealth System in Cleveland.

On Saturday, November 21, the board received the results of an investigation by outside counsel into compensation issues involving more than $1.9 million in supplemental bonuses Boutros authorized for himself between 2018 and 2022 without disclosure to the board. On Monday evening, the board voted to terminate his employment for cause.

"We have taken these actions mindfully and deliberately but with sadness and disappointment," Whiting said in a statement. "We all recognize the wonderful things Dr. Boutros has done for our hospital and for the community. However, we know of no organization permitting its CEO to self-evaluate and determine their entitlement to an additional bonus and at what amount, as Dr. Boutros has done."

However, Boutros told WKYC that the allegations against him are retaliation due to his role as a whistleblower during the process of MetroHealth's hiring of his successor, Airica Steed. Boutros had expressed concern that board members had violated Ohio's sunshine laws by deliberating Steed's hiring and signing agreements outside of public meetings, the report said.

WHY THIS MATTERS

In 2021, Boutros announced he would step down on December 31 of this year after serving nearly 10 years as the president and CEO of the MetroHealth System.

MetroHealth in Cuyahoga County is a safety net hospital system, providing care through four hospitals, four emergency departments, more than 20 health centers and more than 40 additional sites.

After Boutros' termination, the board said Dr. Nabil Chehade would assume the CEO's duties on an interim basis until the hospital transitions to its new president and CEO, Dr. Airica Steed, on December 5.    

THE LARGER TREND

Boutros, by his own admission, said Whiting, established specific metrics, conducted self-assessments of his performance under those metrics and authorized payment to himself of more than $1.9 million in supplemental bonuses based on those self-evaluations between 2018 and 2022.

The self-evaluations and the supplemental bonus amounts paid to Dr. Boutros were not disclosed to the board, which sets his compensation, as his employment contract stipulates clearly. The board launched an internal investigation, led by the Tucker Ellis law firm, when the board learned of these issues as it prepared for a CEO transition.

The board demanded immediate repayment of the supplemental bonus money. On October 31, Dr. Boutros repaid $2,104,337.11, which represented the supplemental bonus money paid without approval for performance in calendar years 2017 through 2021, plus $124,003.86 in interest.

On November 9, the board approved and enacted immediate CEO spending and hiring limitations that are to remain in place through December 31.

Boutros informed the board at a public meeting that he had self-reported to the Ohio Ethics Commission on November 1, the day after the repayment.

"We stand ready to cooperate with any investigating authorities while we continue our internal investigation," Whiting said.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org