WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Study suggests hospital CEO was paid too much

Jessie Stensland reports:

Ron Telles, who was fired from the WhidbeyHealth CEO position last week, earned $430,000 a year, or about $207 an hour, plus full benefits and other expenses. The study found that the average CEO compensation for nonprofit hospitals with fewer than 50 beds is $130 an hour. Publicly owned WhidbeyHealth currently staffs 18 beds but has the potential to increase that to 25.

They Said It

Ron Wallin, the president of the hospital board, said Telles’ salary was increased to compensate for his dual roles of chief executive officer and chief financial officer.

“Mistakes were made,” he said, “but the board is trying to move past them.”

Wallin said the board decided to do away with the system of giving executives bonuses, which he said can hide the true salaries of CEOs. When they are taken into account, the salaries of CEOs at other hospitals are higher than people realize, he said.