Doctors Hospital executive who was under investigation resigns

Ohio Health, parent company of Doctors Hospital in Nelsonville, has confirmed that Steve Swart has resigned his position as president and CEO of the hospital effective Tuesday. Swart had held the position since 2004.

A news release from Ohio Health said Swart  “will be pursuing other professional opportunities,” though he had been placed  on leave July 2, pending an internal investigation.

Ohio Health has refused to disclose the  reason for the investigation, though it’s known that a former hospital employee  has sought a protection order against Swart.

In her petition filed June 30, Angela Shust  stated that she has filed a sexual harassment claim against Swart, and that he  has “threatened to kill my husband, hurt my children. He has stalked me, run me  off the highway.”

In a motion to continue the case, Swart’s  attorney, Gerald A. Mollica, said Swart “unequivocally denies the allegations…  and is in no way a threat to (Shust).”

According to Ohio’s  Health’s latest news release, Larry Thornhill, vice  president of Regional System Development for OhioHealth, will serve as acting  president at Doctors Hospital Nelsonville while a search process begins for a  permanent replacement.

LaMar Wyse  will continue to serve as interim chief operating officer, running the  day-to-day operations of the hospital and reporting directly to Thornhill, who  is also serving as interim chief executive officer of O’Bleness Health System  and is overseeing the search process for a permanent CEO there.