Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced Thursday that the hospital’s CEO would not be returning from his unexplained leave of absence.

In a message on social media , hospital interim board chair Chloe Learey asked for the community’s patience as they search for a replacement for Chris Dougherty.

“These are complex and challenging times for BMH,” Learey said. “Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to work together to get through these challenging times.”

Since 2017, the hospital has lost money every year but one, and state regulators this year rejected the hospital’s budget plan , saying the numbers were neither reliable nor realistic.

Dougherty went on leave as the hospital was working to resubmit its budget to the Green Mountain Care Board.

Vermont’s new health care law, Act

See Full Page