Hutcheson hospital officials have questioned the motive behind a request for an audit from the Catoosa Commission. Hospital officials said they are in the process of working on such an audit.
Hutcheson President and CEO Farrell Hayes said, "In September, Catoosa County Attorney Chad Young stunned us by sending Hutcheson’s board of directors and administration a letter threatening contempt of court if the hospital did not immediately release 2009-2014 audited financials.
"The current administration has worked diligently with national accounting firms to complete audited financials, an unresolved issue from Erlanger’s and Charles Stewart’s administrations. Catoosa County is aware of our significant progress as Mr. Young, Catoosa attorney Skip Paty, and Catoosa board representatives routinely attend monthly board meetings. However, the Catoosa County Commission never made a single request for audits between 2008 and 2014.
"The timing of this legal action is curious given the public nature of the foreclosure proceedings. By taking this action, Catoosa commissioners accomplish nothing except to erode confidence in Hutcheson and to put its citizens at risk.
"It is prior administrations that left years of financials unaudited, and under the current administration, these audits will be completed and released. Going forward, if this administration fails to produce annual audits, only then should we be subject to such criticism - much less threatened with legal action - by the government of the very counties we are striving to serve."