Adena Health's Chief Clinical Officer Accused of Misleading Public on Emergency Department Wait Time

Ross County, OH – August 23, 2024 – Adena Health's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Koury, faces criticism after making controversial claims about the performance of the health system's Emergency Department (ED) in June 2023. During a period marked by multiple scandals and scrutiny, Dr. Koury stated that Adena Health's ED was the fastest in the region, with an average wait time of just 5-7 minutes before patients were seen by a doctor. This statement, aimed at rebuilding community trust, has come under fire as recent data reveals significant discrepancies.

According to publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Adena Health's ED wait times have actually worsened since Dr. Koury's tenure began. The average wait time for an ED visit at Adena Health now stands at 230 minutes, a stark contrast to the national average of 162 minutes. This figure also lags behind local competitors, with Holzer Health reporting an average of 139 minutes and Berger Health at 162 minutes.

Critics argue that the misleading information provided by Dr. Koury, coupled with the actual performance data, highlights a troubling lack of transparency and accountability. Since Dr. Koury took over the role from his predecessor, Kirk Tucker, the average wait time has increased from 201 minutes to 230 minutes, raising concerns that the situation is deteriorating rather than improving.

The discrepancy between Dr. Koury's claims and the CMS data has prompted calls for a more detailed review of Adena Health's emergency services. Community members and local officials are questioning the integrity of the health system's communications and demanding greater transparency regarding the true state of the ED's performance. Noted Adena had 7% of patients leave the hospital before they were seen which is double the national average.