On Friday, Governor Jim Douglas said the best way to restore public trust at Fletcher Allen Health Care is to replace most of the institution’s trustees. Douglas says he believes the trustees do bear some responsibility for the massive financial problems surrounding the hospital’s expansion plan known as the Renaissance Project.
Some hospital officials knowingly withheld information from state regulators about the true cost of project. Initially it was estimated that the Renaissance project would cost roughly $120 million. Recent projections place the cost at $356 million.
Douglas says he’s concerned that the public’s confidence in Fletcher Allen has been seriously undermined and he thinks immediate action is needed to begin the healing process at the hospital.