Patient Safety | 10.24.22
Catholic Medical Center Hires Outside Firm to Review Its Handling of a Former Cardiac Surgeon
by New Hampshire Public Radio
Catholic Medical Center (CMC) in New Hampshire recently hired an outside law firm with experience in the healthcare sector to review its cardiac surgery unit. The move comes after a Boston Globe investigation that called into question a former CMC surgeon with one of the nation's worst malpractice records. Pennsylvania-based firm Horty, Springer & Mattern is now conducting an independent look at the hospital’s credentialing practices and how leadership responded to employee concerns about Dr. Yvon Baribeau. Journalists found that the now-retired Baribeau was named in 21 medical malpractice settlements, including 14 settlements that involved a patient fatality -- the most of any physician in the country. According to the newspaper's reporting, some colleagues raised concerns about Baribeau’s performance. However, those worries were mostly ignored amid CMC continuing to market its cardiac unit and Baribeau's experience. CMC disputes the investigation's findings and its characterization of hospital's handling of Baribeau.
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