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The El Camino Hospital board of directors voted unanimously over the weekend not to renew the five-year contract with hospital president and CEO Tomi Ryba. Ryba, who took the top role at the hospital in October 2011, will continue to serve as CEO through the end of October.
The board met on Saturday, Aug. 27, for a hastily convened closed session meeting to discuss Ryba’s contract, performance evaluation and “related matters.” Ryba, along with board member Jeffrey Davis, did not attend the special meeting, which was announced just 24 hours prior.
Ryba, who also serves as a member of the hospital board, was “in agreement” with the board’s decision, according to a hospital press release sent out Monday.
The board was originally scheduled in June to approve Ryba’s new base salary and salary range, which typically includes a bonus of up to 45 percent, based on her performance. Her 2015 salary was $800,300. However, the board delayed its decision in June without commenting.
In a statement, hospital board president Neal Cohen said Ryba helped to develop strong partnerships with community leaders, organizations, physicians and donors, and worked collaboratively to ensure that the hospital will continue to meet the needs of the community.
During her tenure as CEO, El Camino Hospital took on several ambitious projects. The hospital recently finished upgrading to an electronic medical records system, finalized plans to expand the hospital’s Mountain View campus, and announced plans to purchase land for a new hospital outside of the district in South San Jose, with the aim to expand El Camino’s presence in the Bay Area.
Ryba also focused on raising awareness about mental health conditions in order to ease the stigma associated with them, and finding better ways to deliver mental health care through the hospital’s services, according to a hospital press release.
Shortly after Ryba arrived in 2011, one of the hospital’s unions started working on a ballot initiative to restrict executive compensation at El Camino, a reaction to cuts to hospital workers’ benefits. Measure M passed in 2012 and was the subject of a lawsuit that was resolved when the SEIU agreed not to defend it in court after hospital officials acquiesced to concessions in contract negotiations.
“It has been a privilege to serve as president and CEO of El Camino Hospital,” Ryba said in a statement. “We have advanced patient quality, secured the organization’s financial viability and increased community benefits to the residents of the region.”
Ryba, who could not immediately be reached for comment, will pursue other health care opportunities, said Jennifer Thrift, a hospital spokeswoman.
The hospital board established a committee to begin the search for an interim CEO, and will simultaneously start a national search for a new president and CEO of the hospital.
El Camino Hospital, long reputed to have high quality patient care by physicians, RN’s and ancillary staff has been harnessed by a list of faltering CEOs. Start with Lee Dimanico, iMr Graham and now Ryba! Each has made a wad of money from hospital nusiness dealings and in Mr Dimanico case, he departed with a holden parachute that included lifetime healthcare benefits. Amidst the tenures of these “stellar” performers have been labor disputes, picketing and cuts to direct patient care services. Just ask night shift RN’s how the care has been affected by taking away CNA’s that helped wirh nocturnal patient lifting and care. Consider the current RN informational picketing..would that be happening if the hospital administrative team was more willing to reach accross the aisle and work with the RN union, PRN? Ms Ryba’s salary n benefits speaks VOLUMES about the DISPARITY between the haves n the have nots of Silicon Valley.
“The board was originally scheduled in June to approve Ryba’s new base salary and salary range, which typically includes a bonus of between a 15 and 45 percent, based on her performance. Her 2015 salary was $800,300”
Wow, just wow. A disgusting salary for heath care administrator. How many lives is she helping save each day as the doctors and nurses are? We have our priorities so wrong.
The replacement will get 900K per year.
Remember Measure M? The voters, by a small margin, showed their opinion of such a high total cost the CEO represented in the hospital budget. It was not a good measure as it tried to undo a legal contract and would have been found to be illegal. I was personally involved in the aftermath of this measure and those who supported it, and let the union put their names on it, were sued by the hospital and forced to default. This is the time to let the hospital board know if you object to the high salary and incredible perks they would give to a new CEO. No matter what they say there has to be a great person who will take the job for less. Overcompensation of executives has become a way of life in our country and needs to be stopped before we let it ruin all of our businesses. Remember that the people involved in your direct care in the hospital should be paid well and paying top executives lavishly only leaves less for those who are trying to survive in our current economy. I have used El Camino Hospital’s services many ways at different times and was treated well with great care and professionalism. The board members and CEO were not the ones who made it great. It was and will be those on the floors that will make people like me come back.
@PH – I was wondering why measure M was fought in the courts and why no one defended it.
Good to know … would be nice if a version could be created that did not have those problems.
EXH is a private, for-profit company. Why should we have any say in how they compensate their execs or regular staff?
High hospital CEO pay is a nationwide problem, and ECH just pays competitively, it seems: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150808/magazine/308089988. Needs to be addressed at a higher level than locally. I think this was one of the problems with Measure M — tried to restrict it locally, but ECH would not have been able to hire anyone who was looking for the job if the pay was so out of whack with what they could get elsewhere.
Also, I think ECH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit governed by the El Camino Healthcare District: https://www.elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org/about
Can we sell back the plot of land purchased in South San Jose clearly outside the care premises of El Camino Hospital? That was a waste of money!!
This lady was getting 800k a year? That’s a bunch of B.S- Bwesit!!
How many times has she walked around and talked with the staff (during multiple shifts) at the hospital or even have a nice chat with some of the workers to boost some kind of morale?
It takes a lot to be a leader of a medical facility, but to have a salary that’s 7x more than the people that actually do real work and are around the battlefield each day and night is a total disparity.
No doubt, in order to lure in a replacement, the offer will be in upwards of more than 800k per year. Boo!!
Give back the money to the ones who clearly deserve this- the people and workers of El Camino Hospital. Some units don’t even get a proper holiday Christmas party because the managers of the unit pocket the cash and instead throw a cheap party in their own homes.
ECH is a public entity because it has income from taxes and is, therefore, a Califprnia DISTRICT hospital. Taxes support ECH just as someof our real estate taxes support school districts. Often, measures that affect the hospital are voted upon during general elections. Not all income is tax based but the laws governing most of ECH business relate to its being a public entity. The hospital structure is not a simple, single entity. I suggest people attend board meetings, ask for bylaws and educate themselves anout all of this. Its quite a business entity. Look ip 501c3 which is what the hospital is. Also note, the hospital board members are ELECTED by we the people!
Good riddance! There is so much waste and failure to collect loans to employees that the grand jury should convene.
meanwhile, property owners are paying the bills.
@Pat: Your last sentence is incorrect. The hospital board members are not elected by us. The board members of the healthcare district (formerly known as the hospital district which is different than the hospital itself) are elected by us. The hospital board members are appointed by the healthcare district board.
For instance, the article says that Ryba was on the hospital board. That’s correct. But she is not on the healthcare district board which is elected by us.
I know it’s hard to understand and keep track of. Just like it’s hard to understand why the hospital is expanding beyond the district.
August 27, 2016
Informational Picketing
September 9th, 2016
7:30am – 2:30pm
PRN Members,
We are proceeding with informational picketing and looking for your commitment and support. Please start making arrangements so you will be able to participate. If you are scheduled to work show your support and join us on your lunch break.
Our picketing is strictly informational and designed to publicize that a dispute exists with our employer. To be clear, there should be no attempts made to block traffic or the entry-ways to the hospital as people and other employees enter. This informational picket is not limited to RNs at ECH. Friends, family members, other unions, community advocates and supporters are welcome to join the picket line. Family pets have even been known to join picket lines! More details to come.
Please note that picketing is legal and NOT a work stoppage or strike. You cannot be disciplined for participating in an informational picket.
If there is ANOTHER Robin on Martens-Carmelita, I’d be interested in knowing who you are, as I didn’t post the above reply @Pat.
And think of the poor night shift RN’s that get told not to come in but they might be needed in 4 hours – to me if they are scheduled on called off but may be needed later that is on call and should receive on call pay.
What world do you people live in?
Yes, $800,000 is a lot of money. But that’s what people get paid to run large organizations.
You want good leaders? You gotta pay. Otherwise they’ll go where the money is.
I’ll never blame anyone for wanting to make as much money as they can earn.
And no one should cry for the El Camino Nurses. THEY ARE WELL PAID FOR THEIR WORK.
Most of us would be very happy to receive their paychecks.
Why are tax payers funding this institution at all — when, these days, many have medical plans that require use of a specific HMO unaffiliated with ECH?
well, demoralized
why don’t you post the new prn email already?!? its been over half an hour since it was sent. what are you waiting for
/smh
@MyOpinion-“El Camino Hospital raked in more money than anticipated in 2015, ending with $65 million in extra cash…”
Wow, maybe the CEO was worth the 800k salary. Many hospitals in the country and floundering. I hope the next CEO is as successful.
Don’t give credit where credit is not due. Ryba did not raise awareness for mental health. A generous donor contributed millions of dollars to the hospital, which then Ryba got on the band wagon. This CEO, in my opinion has not done much. I was NOT impressed by her from day one, she came and collected a very healthy salary with some real nice bonuses/incentives. Move on to your next victim Ryba. The new electronic computer system that was implemented, did go significantly over budget. Way to go Ryba. The hospital is expanding outside of the community so the can generate more income to justify their “healthy” salaries and bonuses
“The new electronic computer system that was implemented, did go significantly over budget.”(not a fan)
Many departments continue to drown with less than efficient workflows. Money IS being lost.
Perhaps the reporter (Kevin) should have reported on how the $65 M excess revenue came in. Was it just AV (Assessed Valuation = property value increases) or a more interesting combination of Property Tax revenue increases and hospital operating efficiency. (then again 0 the NGO private corporation / public hospital distort complication)
Kevin does a quite good job on the three different school district he covers (IMO). This ‘weird” public hospital district is it’s own complicated and (sometime) mess.
SN lives about two big blocks from El Camino Hospital, has for over 20 years.
So the board took a very hard turn against her, and our only clue as to why is that some computer upgrade project went bad?
Why do we allow a publicly-supported institution to be run so secretively? Or why is the press not getting anonymous leaks from insiders?
I have worked with a variety of hospital administrators over the past seven years. Tomi Ryba stood out as one of the most capable and it was an honor to learn from and work with her. El Camino was fortunate to have her and $800k for a hospital administrator is beyond reasonable.
It is not possible that these CEO’s make millions of dollars for the work they do and forget about the community and the needs we have. We used to have a free clinic that helped all of us minorities and not minorities that lack health insurance. This clinic also known as RotaCare Clinic was operating for many years and providing medical access to those in need in the city of Mountain View. The clinic was sustained by community volunteers and helped all of us that work part time or had no medical benefits. These included everyone not just minorities but anyone who needed medical services and lack insurance. They decided to close this place when people needed that the most. Let’s be clear that not everyone qualifies for the new Affordable Care Act and more than ever, we needed clinics such as the Rotacare clinic to continue helping people in need. The clinic was supported by the volunteers and sustained by donors. The support given by El Camino Hospital was denied and the clinic was closed even though they had people willing to donate their money and time to make it work. This is the most despicable act they could have done to their own community. CEO’s make millions and are so greedy that are not willing to give back to their community but rather take away the little they had. Shame on them and those who support these selfish practices.
So if they can pay a CEO 800K why are they asking volunteers to provide free services? Why are they charging top dollar for services yet expect donations? “El Camino Hospital raked in more money than anticipated in 2015, ending with $65 million in extra cash — and hospital officials won’t have a problem finding ways to spend it.” yeah no kidding, paying themselves huge salaries, meanwhile Rotacare was shut down. It truly is disgusting.
http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2015/07/13/el-camino-hospital-has-a-very-good-year