After a scathing county report blasted the group in charge of international marketing for Jackson Health System for wasteful spending (which included $7,000 for flowers and birthday cakes and $12,000 in limo rides), Miami-Dade County Commissioners had enough, reports the Miami Herald. They voted for Jackson Health's governing body to sever ties with Foundation Health Services, a not-for-profit that has been operating the public hospital's international marketing arm.
"We are fed up," said Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz.
Jackson is considering other ways to run its international marketing, Ted Shaw, interim CFO for the system, told the Herald. Options may include bringing international marketing in-house, hiring another company or partnering with a university.
Rolando Rodriguez, CEO of FHS and the Jackson Memorial Foundation, told the Herald he didn't know why commissioners voted on the issue, considering FHS already told them they would turn international marketing over. Either way, Rodriguez wins out, because his contract was renewed last month with a provision that allows him to claim $52,500, if FHS' contract with the county ends.
During more than two hours of debate yesterday, commissioners were not pleased about the provision.
Shaw, Jackson's interim CFO, also doesn't favor Rodriguez's payment. "I will get down on the floor and kick before that happens," he said.
To learn more:
- read the Miami Herald article
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