STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico State Auditor Brian S. Colón issued the following statement Thursday on the firing of CEO David Conejo of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services (Hospital):

“I have long been concerned with the troubling allegations of gross operational mismanagement, failure to communicate, and lack of transparency at the Hospital under the leadership of CEO David Conejo,” Colón said. “Over the past year I have held Mr. Conejo and the Hospital administration accountable and will continue my attentive and vigilant oversight of the Hospital’s fiscal operations.

“I am encouraged by the work of new Hospital CFO Mary Bevier and will monitor the transition of leadership as she takes on the role of interim CEO. Ultimately, the Hospital must work to restore trust to the community it serves and ensure the families of McKinley County receive the high-quality medical care they deserve.”

Editor’s note: Concerns about Conejo emerged in early May when a Covid-19 patient died following what several staff physicians described as gross mismanagement by the hospital. A second patient suffered severe brain damage after a ventilator was improperly adjusted and the hospital’s critical care doctor resigned over patient safety concerns. A group of staff providers at the hospital voted May 5 to submit a declaration of no confidence in Conejo.