Exactly what, we don't know, but the "lapses of judgment in a personal relationship" were serious enough to warrant a daylong meeting of the hospital's board of trustees, at which Paul Levy apologized, the Herald reports. The Globe also reports.
The BIs press release and Paul Levy's mea culpa are as transparent as mud. If they were interested in clearing the air, they'd be forthcoming about the facts. They are not interested in clearing the air or being forthcoming about the facts, they are interested in executing a PR stunt to move beyond Paul Levy's bad judgment. Paul Levy's "lapse in judgment" in a "personal" relationship doesn't stand alone as his only "lapse in judgment". In fact, lapse in judgment is his method of operation.
He did not describe the nature of the board's action. Hospital spokeswoman Judy Glasser said the board would not provide more details because personnel matters are not public.
Huh. Too bad that NPOs can't hide actions by their board. Unless they were in executive session...
"An individual’s personal transgression, which by all accounts must be measured against a strong record of organizational and professional leadership"
Not by my accounts David, thank you very much, so you're wrong about "all accounts"-- and there are probably many, many other people who could do without your sweeping assumptions about their opinions.
Transgressions don't get measured against one's personal character. You are in fact a lawyer, right? A defense lawyer, by any chance? Why should anyone's "strong record" of anything grant them a "get out of jail free" card-- especially if you don't know what the facts are? Are you seriously saying that there's nothing-- nothing at all-- that he might have done that would warrant some kind of punishment? Are you saying that Levy's and the hospital board's shared desire to hush things up, and their assurances that it is indeed no big deal, are sufficient enough for you? Does ANYONE in your world ever do ANYTHING that's just plain wrong?
Where's the transparency now???? For a PR depatment and CEO always boasting about being 100% transparent, this is awfully vague. I guess it's only important to be transparent when it's convenient. What a double standard. How dare Paul and company try to get under the radar by using lame pr terms like " lapse in judgement?" To think that I actually believed that this hospital was leading a movement in transparency. The problem isn't whatever he did, but rather how it's being handled. Shame on Paul pr representation for treating us like we are idiots.
They're transparent about things that directly affect patient care - remember when the surgeon operated on the wrong side of the body? Or the posting of stats about hospital-acquired infections - or the memos about doctors refusing to wash their hands?
Unless his transgression affected how you're being treated when you go into the ER, how is this different from the hundreds of other personnel decisions I'm sure are made every year there, none of which we know about, even if he is the CEO? And do you think we'd know even this much if he were CEO of MGH or the Brigham?
Yes, they have been transparent about patient care. However, there is another factor here... transparency in the workplace. There is a 98% chance that the person he had the affair with is a BIDMC employee, considering that is where he spends the majority of his life. With that in mind, this becomes a workplace issue. There have been plenty of BIDMC workplace issues that have been made public. Also, the employees at BIDMC look up to Paul. The majority feel like he has been a hero for the medical center. This has been based on both his progress in the workplace PLUS him as a person. So, this affects all of his employees, workplace morale, and some could argue patient care in the long run.
I used to work at BIDMC and can say that most people I know didn't think much of Paul Levy. He was always a self promoting d*uche that only cared about his employees if it was in his own self interest. You know, like blogging about not laying off employees.
The other CEO's personal decisions DO matter. This is part of being a CEO/leading an organization. You can't get by being one way at your organization and another way at home.
Absolutely agree! Just come out with it! This is making him look even worse. Plus, if he just gave all of the details (or most, I personally don't want ALLLL of the details :) ) right off the bat, this would go away much quicker. Now, we will all be curious for days to come, theorizing and gossiping. Out with it Paul! What happened? Was it someone at work?
Recall David Ortiz's (or Alex Rodriguez's if you prefer to hate on the Yankees) reaction to revelations about steroid use? Lots of vague words conveying nothing, followed by not much of anything. And eventually the issue went away. Kind of. In some circles. Wait, what happened to his bat speed again?
Anyway, it is surprising that an organization as supposedly savvy as BIDMC would resort to the same approach, thinking they could show the whiskers without letting the cat out of the bag. It may be that they can leave it at this, but Levy will forever be wondered about by some segments of the Longwood Medical Area community.
This may not be fair - in fact, it may arguably be unreasonable for people to judge the human shortcomings of anyone - but it is a likely reality of this little incident.
In any event, there were three paths. Tell Everything, Tell Almost Nothing and Say the Issue is Closed, or Provide a Little Bit of Detail and Try to Close the Door.
The third option was the worst, and a really surprise pick when you think about it.
As replies to this comment, please make your best guess as to the nature of Paul Levy's "lapse in judgment" and include presumed facts and lots and lots of lurid details.
Ok I'll start. Late one night Paul and his favorite night shift wet nurse started their usual frisky disrobing in a remote but public hallway of the BI. As was his want, he copulated with the bodacious wet nurse from behind in a formation sometimes referred to as a train. Word got out and others joined in. As Paul stated, it was a lapse of judgment and next time, they plan to meet in his office behind closed doors.
As an employee of BIDMC I can tell you that there are SO many people at BIDMC who know exactly who Paul had his affair with. Paul and this woman (whose name I know but will omit from my post) should be ashamed of themselves. It is good that this story of favortism is coming to light - this woman was given a conjured up position for which she has zero qualifications. She spent her days bossing anybody and everybody around with a complete sense of entitlement. I'm glad that good always does seem to prevail. What was happening with this woman was wrong and unfair to all employees at BIDMC. Why is Paul not being fired for this clear act of favortism?
according to the article, the woman left last year with a severance package. What was reason/excuse given for her leaving? Any info on what was in the severance package?
Levy... e-mailed a statement to hospital employees Monday in which he apologized “for any discredit this brings upon our hospital and the excellent work you do here.
He apologized for their excellent work. Nonsense. He's glad handing his way though a personal crisis. What a putz.
By Wednesday, two anonymous hospital sources told the Globe that the "undisclosed lapses of judgment" have something to do with an unidentified female employee and that the board is considering asking Levy to pay for the severance package Beth Israel gave the woman when she left her job last year.
Comments
Wait what?
Is this some PR stunt to make all the people who've actually been wronged by the place think that BIDMC gives a rat's ass about ethics?
(Also, I could have sworn I was reading The Onion as I paged through that Herald article.)
lapse in judgment is Levy's method of operation
The BIs press release and Paul Levy's mea culpa are as transparent as mud. If they were interested in clearing the air, they'd be forthcoming about the facts. They are not interested in clearing the air or being forthcoming about the facts, they are interested in executing a PR stunt to move beyond Paul Levy's bad judgment. Paul Levy's "lapse in judgment" in a "personal" relationship doesn't stand alone as his only "lapse in judgment". In fact, lapse in judgment is his method of operation.
License to speculate...?
He the guy who was being extorted by the prostitute, who's free on condition of not revealing the John's name? Ah, fast life in the "Naked City".
huh...they're a NPO, right?
He did not describe the nature of the board's action. Hospital spokeswoman Judy Glasser said the board would not provide more details because personnel matters are not public.
Huh. Too bad that NPOs can't hide actions by their board. Unless they were in executive session...
beware the mob
I guess I look at this a little differently.
annnnd you're wrong
"An individual’s personal transgression, which by all accounts must be measured against a strong record of organizational and professional leadership"
Not by my accounts David, thank you very much, so you're wrong about "all accounts"-- and there are probably many, many other people who could do without your sweeping assumptions about their opinions.
Transgressions don't get measured against one's personal character. You are in fact a lawyer, right? A defense lawyer, by any chance? Why should anyone's "strong record" of anything grant them a "get out of jail free" card-- especially if you don't know what the facts are? Are you seriously saying that there's nothing-- nothing at all-- that he might have done that would warrant some kind of punishment? Are you saying that Levy's and the hospital board's shared desire to hush things up, and their assurances that it is indeed no big deal, are sufficient enough for you? Does ANYONE in your world ever do ANYTHING that's just plain wrong?
Transparency????
Where's the transparency now???? For a PR depatment and CEO always boasting about being 100% transparent, this is awfully vague. I guess it's only important to be transparent when it's convenient. What a double standard. How dare Paul and company try to get under the radar by using lame pr terms like " lapse in judgement?" To think that I actually believed that this hospital was leading a movement in transparency. The problem isn't whatever he did, but rather how it's being handled. Shame on Paul pr representation for treating us like we are idiots.
Transparency about what?
They're transparent about things that directly affect patient care - remember when the surgeon operated on the wrong side of the body? Or the posting of stats about hospital-acquired infections - or the memos about doctors refusing to wash their hands?
Unless his transgression affected how you're being treated when you go into the ER, how is this different from the hundreds of other personnel decisions I'm sure are made every year there, none of which we know about, even if he is the CEO? And do you think we'd know even this much if he were CEO of MGH or the Brigham?
Yes, they have been
Yes, they have been transparent about patient care. However, there is another factor here... transparency in the workplace. There is a 98% chance that the person he had the affair with is a BIDMC employee, considering that is where he spends the majority of his life. With that in mind, this becomes a workplace issue. There have been plenty of BIDMC workplace issues that have been made public. Also, the employees at BIDMC look up to Paul. The majority feel like he has been a hero for the medical center. This has been based on both his progress in the workplace PLUS him as a person. So, this affects all of his employees, workplace morale, and some could argue patient care in the long run.
look up to Paul?
I used to work at BIDMC and can say that most people I know didn't think much of Paul Levy. He was always a self promoting d*uche that only cared about his employees if it was in his own self interest. You know, like blogging about not laying off employees.
The other CEO's personal
The other CEO's personal decisions DO matter. This is part of being a CEO/leading an organization. You can't get by being one way at your organization and another way at home.
You are likely to read about
Translation: It's going to come out, but I still don't have the guts to come out and say what the hell it is I'm talking about.
Paul Levy
Either you say what happened or you don't say anything at all. Once out, there's no going back.
Absolutely agree! Just come
Absolutely agree! Just come out with it! This is making him look even worse. Plus, if he just gave all of the details (or most, I personally don't want ALLLL of the details :) ) right off the bat, this would go away much quicker. Now, we will all be curious for days to come, theorizing and gossiping. Out with it Paul! What happened? Was it someone at work?
Paul Levy for Governor ?
Usually threads about Paul Levy have post encouraging him to run for Governor.
Seems this development has put the kibosh on that idea.
The Ortiz Defense
Recall David Ortiz's (or Alex Rodriguez's if you prefer to hate on the Yankees) reaction to revelations about steroid use? Lots of vague words conveying nothing, followed by not much of anything. And eventually the issue went away. Kind of. In some circles. Wait, what happened to his bat speed again?
Anyway, it is surprising that an organization as supposedly savvy as BIDMC would resort to the same approach, thinking they could show the whiskers without letting the cat out of the bag. It may be that they can leave it at this, but Levy will forever be wondered about by some segments of the Longwood Medical Area community.
This may not be fair - in fact, it may arguably be unreasonable for people to judge the human shortcomings of anyone - but it is a likely reality of this little incident.
In any event, there were three paths. Tell Everything, Tell Almost Nothing and Say the Issue is Closed, or Provide a Little Bit of Detail and Try to Close the Door.
The third option was the worst, and a really surprise pick when you think about it.
This calls for CONJECTURE !!
As replies to this comment, please make your best guess as to the nature of Paul Levy's "lapse in judgment" and include presumed facts and lots and lots of lurid details.
Ok I'll start. Late one night Paul and his favorite night shift wet nurse started their usual frisky disrobing in a remote but public hallway of the BI. As was his want, he copulated with the bodacious wet nurse from behind in a formation sometimes referred to as a train. Word got out and others joined in. As Paul stated, it was a lapse of judgment and next time, they plan to meet in his office behind closed doors.
when did universal hub...
...become to letters to penthouse?
...
Her eyes pleaded for more. Her hands traveled downward, caressing me hungrily. She whispered, "I'll hub, if U-Hub..."
*gasp*
Please, Suldog! Do U Hub your mother with that mouth?!
We know who!
As an employee of BIDMC I can tell you that there are SO many people at BIDMC who know exactly who Paul had his affair with. Paul and this woman (whose name I know but will omit from my post) should be ashamed of themselves. It is good that this story of favortism is coming to light - this woman was given a conjured up position for which she has zero qualifications. She spent her days bossing anybody and everybody around with a complete sense of entitlement. I'm glad that good always does seem to prevail. What was happening with this woman was wrong and unfair to all employees at BIDMC. Why is Paul not being fired for this clear act of favortism?
Here is an article with a bit more detail: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/art...
according to the article, the
according to the article, the woman left last year with a severance package. What was reason/excuse given for her leaving? Any info on what was in the severance package?
Levy... e-mailed a statement
He apologized for their excellent work. Nonsense. He's glad handing his way though a personal crisis. What a putz.
Oh, come on
You know that sentence can be parsed a couple different ways and you know what he meant.
He's glad handing
He's glad handing his way though a personal crisis. What a putz.
By Wednesday, two anonymous
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/MAR-2502...
Seems right
Mr. Levy should be paying for the cost of giving the woman his package.