Doctor says Valenti exit has lot to do with deal being struck

Coupled with the announcement of the deal between El Paso Children’s Hospital and University Medical Center Monday was the resignation of UMC CEO Jim Valenti, effective May of 2016.

Coincidence?

Judging by what ABC-7 heard from the County Judge, a County Commissioner and a Children’s Hospital doctor on Tuesday, it appears the resignation of Valenti had a lot to do with a deal being struck.

“Definitely part of it,” said El Paso Children’s Hospital pediatric radiologist Dr. Steven Ross, the same doctor who told ABC-7 back in July that Children’s doctors just didn’t trust Valenti. “Universally, if you ask the doctors, they were unhappy to see Jim Valenti become our CEO. We made it clear, we were not interested in him administrating our hospital.”

Dr. Ross believes that was taken into consideration when a settlement was reached on Monday, leading to Valenti’s submission of his resignation, effective seven months from now.

“I think that was a good faith move on the behalf of the UMC board and the County Commissioners,” Ross added. “Whether people believe he was not helping the Children’s Hospital or if he was, no one can deny the Children’s staff did not trust him.”

ABC-7 also asked County Commissioner David Stout and County Judge Veronica Escobar whether the deal and Valenti’s announced exit it was a coincidence.

“Probably not,” Stout said. “Mr. Valenti realizes that his continuance with the hospital could have been an issue. It was completely his choice. He took it upon himself to say, ‘I’ll step out of the way so that’s not an issue when this deal is being done.'”

Escobar added: “We’ve been asked to keep details of the deal confidential until the plan is filed, so you’ll be able to judge for yourself once you see the plan, which hopefully will be Friday. But I’ll tell you this: Many of us were saying its definitely time for new leadership.”

Ross told ABC-7 doctors felt Valenti “personified the hampering of Children’s progress and services.”

ABC-7 was told Valenti didn’t have time for an interview on Tuesday, but everyone should know more by Friday, when the terms of the settlement are released, about how important Valenti’s exit was to the deal.