SOUTH KINGSTOWN – South County Health, the parent company that operates South County Hospital, has filed a lawsuit against a group advocating for a change in hospital leadership, arguing the group exposed confidential donor information in its effort to get donors to redirect their donations away from the hospital.
“To sit back any longer and not take affirmative action to protect the relationship between South County Hospital and its donor base risks the loss of one of South County Hospital’s most valuable assets,” the company said in a March 12 news release on its website.
Advancing Orthopedic Patient Care at South County Health
World-Class Joint Replacement Expertise, Here at Home Joint pain can be life-altering, limiting mobility and…
Learn More
In response, the group called Save South County Hospital – which describes itself as a nonprofit citizens advocacy group made up of more than 2,000 supporters, donors and patients in the South County region – called the legal action a “desperate” maneuver and disputed the allegations as “baseless.”
“In a desperate and vindictive maneuver, the hospital has launched a lawsuit against Save South County Hospital and a former development officer who left SCH five years ago,” the group said in a statement posted on its website. “Hospital leaders … falsely allege that we accessed confidential donor data to sabotage their philanthropy and even claim we urged the community to withhold donations—baseless accusations that we condemn.
“…No one did that,” the statement continues. “Donations come from free will; if management’s actions are driving donors away, they must ask, ‘What are we doing to provoke this response?’ ”
The advocacy group was formed last fall following the exodus of oncology doctors who resigned from the hospital’s Cancer Center in August 2024 “due to irreconcilable differences over issues directly affecting patient care,” according to an open letter sent to the hospital’s board of trustees, lawmakers and state agencies by a group of 40 doctors, nurses and community members calling for changes in hospital leadership.
Save South County Hospital has called for the resignations of South County Health CEO and President Aaron Robinson, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Charpentier and board of trustees Chairman Joseph Matthews.
The concerns stem from what several doctors, donors and others called “alarming changes” the health system faced. These included the relationship between providers and leadership that led to the oncologists resigning, as well as to primary care doctors departing because of issues with management; staffing shortages in the pulmonary and cardiology services; and eliminating the sleep lab and reducing other services.
But hospital leaders say the advocacy group’s claims are false and their actions have caused “confusion, concern, and anxiety in our community.” The hospital said it has tried to resolve disagreements, but the advocacy group has chosen to take a “non–constructive way forward.”
Save South County Hospital is encouraging community members to attend a “Special Meeting of the Members of South County Hospital Healthcare System Endowment, the parent corporations of South County Hospital,” according to a graphic posted on the group’s website.
The goal of the meeting – which will be held at the South Kingstown High School auditorium on April 3 at 6 p.m. – is to “begin to effect positive leadership change at the Hospital by enacting Bylaw changes and adding respected local healthcare leaders to the Endowment and Hospital Boards of Trustees,” according to the graphic, which goes on to say the group plans to elect nine additional members to the South County Health board of trustees.
South County Hospital spokesperson Matt Moeller said the advocacy group doesn’t meet the necessary criteria to hold an event labeled “South County Healthcare System Endowment Meeting” or “Special Members Meeting,” WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported March 19.
“Any decisions or votes taken at this gathering hold no validity or authority to enact change at the hospital,” Moeller told WPRI-TV. “Members will have the appropriate opportunity to engage with leadership and the board at the annual meeting in April, in accordance with our established processes and bylaws.”
Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.
