UPDATE: Cape Regional Medical Staff Votes; Childs Wins over Nanavati

COURT HOUSE — The Board of Trustees of Cape Regional Medical Center announced that Dr. Richard A. Michner will be the new president of the Medical Staff.
Serving with Michner is Dr. Arthur L. Childs, vice president/president elect; Dr. Donald C. Tomasello, secretary/treasurer; Dr. John Ruskey, and Dr. Monique Scally, members at large.
Another physician who lost in the election said the whole process was flawed.
According to a Cape Regional release, Michner has been a member of the medical staff since 1984. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Guadalajara in 1976, Michner completed his graduate medical education in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in 1982. He is a past president of the Cape May County Medical Society.
He has served on the Cape Regional Medical Center Medical Executive Committee for the past four years, two as secretary/treasurer and two as president elect. Michner is in private practice here.
“I am honored to be chosen by my peers to represent them on behalf of the medical staff at Cape Regional Medical Center,” stated Michner.
“The business of healthcare has changed dramatically. Cape Regional and our medical staff need to work together regardless of the barriers placed before us for the good of the community we serve.”
Childs has been a member of the Medical Staff since 1992. He received his medical degree from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Medicine in 1986. Childs is board certified in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. He is in private practice here.
“The healthcare system in this country is undergoing enormous change that will affect our community in many unforeseen ways,” Childs stated to the Herald prior to the election. “With a unified medical staff we can weather the storm bringing bold new initiatives to this hospital and community.”
The hospital release stated that Tomasello has been a member of the medical staff since 2002. He received his medical degree at Thomas Jefferson Medical College in 1996. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and serves as the chairman of the Cancer Committee at Cape Regional. He is in private practice here.
Scally joined the medical staff at Cape Regional Medical Center in 2008. She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2000 and completed a Cardiology Fellowship at Temple University Hospital. She is in private practice here.
Ruskey has been a member of the medical staff since 1992. He received his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training at Thomas Jefferson University hospital in Philadelphia. He is board certified by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
“Our sincere congratulations to our new medical staff officers,” stated hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Joanne Carrocino. “We look forward to working with the Medical Staff leadership as we continuously strive to deliver exceptional care to our patients, their families, and our community.”
The race between Childs and Dr. Suketu Nanavati, a local cardiologist, was the only contested seat in the election.
According to Nanavati, 90 of the 112 eligible medical staff voters participated in the election. Childs received 57 votes and Nanavati received 33, he said.
Nanavati lost a similar election for staff vice president to Michner two years ago with less than 30 percent of the vote.
“So, I’m getting closer,” Nanavati told the Herald. “I may have lost but democracy won.”
He said he wanted to thank the 33 “brave doctors” who supported him, noting that he isn’t the most popular physician among Medical Staff leadership and hospital administration.
“They could face repercussions for nominating me and voting for me,” Nanavati suggested.
Nanavati also questioned Cape Regional’s policy of allowing hospital-based, contracted doctors, who practice solely within the medical center, to participate in elections. He said there is a very clear conflict of interests.
“Allowing contracted physicians to participate in medical staff elections invariably leads to corruption and poor patient care,” he suggested.
Nanavati said those physicians likely voted in line with the leadership so as not to lose their hospital contracts. He said about 20 contracted doctors voted in the election and “if only independent doctors were allowed to vote, it might have been a closer race.”
“I congratulate Joanne Carrocino and Dr. (Richard) Falivena (vice president of medical affairs) on the victory of their new medical staff officers,” Nanavati said.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com