Chapter 8 - The Emergency Boardroom
At 9:00 a.m., an extraordinary meeting of the Meridian Atlantic Board of Directors was convened in the main auditorium.
News of the federal raids, the arrest of Dr. Franklin Marsh, and the exposure of the corporate bribery scheme had already leaked to major national news outlets. The hospital’s reputation was hanging by a thread.
The Chief Executive Officer, Richard Sterling, stood at the podium, sweating profusely before a crowd of doctors, nurses, board members, and journalists.
“We are deeply saddened by the rogue actions of Dr. Marsh and Mr. Vance,” Sterling declared into the microphones. “Moving forward, Meridian Atlantic will undergo a complete administrative restructure to ensure patient safety remains our highest priority—”
“Actions speak louder than speeches, Mr. Sterling,” a loud, authoritative voice echoed from the back of the auditorium.
The crowd turned.
Rear Admiral Thomas Alderton walked down the center aisle, flanked by Dr. Evelyn Cross and Sloan Ward, who was now wearing a pristine navy-blue military dress uniform adorned with her medical service medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Gasps rippled through the audience. The nurses who had worked alongside Sloan for the past seven weeks stared in absolute shock.
“The Navy is revoking Meridian Atlantic’s trauma research grants effective immediately,” Alderton announced, stepping up onto the stage. “Unless this board makes an immediate, structural change to its clinical leadership.”
CEO Sterling blinked nervously. “Admiral... what kind of change?”
Alderton turned to Sloan.
May you like
“Effective today, Dr. Evelyn Cross has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer,” Alderton declared. “And Captain Sloan Ward has agreed to serve as the hospital’s Director of Trauma Quality Control and Chief Emergency Consultant.”
The room erupted into applause. Barbara Elroy and the ER nursing staff stood up, clapping frantically, their eyes filled with pride and respect for the quiet nurse who had turned out to be a decorated war hero.
