CEO leaves AU Medical Center
Augusta University announced Thursday evening that AU Medical Center CEO Lee Ann Liska is leaving her role immediately.
According to a statement from the university, interim leadership will be announced soon, and the search for a permanent CEO has already begun.
Danielle Harris, senior communications and media coordinator, said the university does not discuss personnel matters. The university would not provide further comment other than the statement.
Liska began her role in August 2016. As CEO and executive vice president of health affairs at AU , she was responsible for the oversight of clinical operations at AUMC, the Children's Hospital of Georgia, Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospitals, Georgia Correctional Healthcare and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home.
Under her leadership, the Children's Hospital of Georgia was ranked No. 1 in the nation in pediatric quality and safety among 123 top academic medical centers. Liska serves on the boards of the American Heart Association and the United Way.
In April, Liska attempted to help the AU Health System navigate through a major financial loss that was possibly due to significant accounting errors. The system showed just over $24 million in losses for the fiscal year that will end June 30.
The $24 million included a $4 million payment due to AU and a loss of $1.5 million from an interest rate swap, leaving the loss from operations closer to $18.3 million. However, the significant dip came despite high volumes and an increase in revenue of $32.4 million over the previous year.
Some of the inconsistencies included drugs and pharmaceutical supplies being off 24 percent over the previous year at $13.7 million. Salaries and expenses were also up $13.2 million over the previous year.
At the time, Liska said the errors could be because AU Medical Associates was integrated into the health system at the beginning of the year, and the group used a different style of accounting.
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