It appears that another CEO is out at Catskill Regional Medical Center.  The leadership at the embattled hospital has forced out acting CEO Lawrence Cafasso, according to several hospital sources. CRMC officials wouldn’t confirm the news.

But they wouldn’t say Cafasso was still on the job, either. And he was “not available” yesterday at the hospital administration office. He did not return messages left at his home.

A source on the medical staff said that Cafasso was fired Thursday night, when he returned from several days of vacation. Two other sources confirmed that Cafasso was out.

His departure comes six weeks after that of Arthur Brien, who resigned in September. Cafasso had been Brien’s top lieutenant. He was promoted on an “acting” basis when Brien left and the board brought in Chicago-based turnaround firm Navigant to help CRMC dig out of its deep financial hole.

Navigant has been studying CRMC’s operations for the past month and was expected to recommend changes last week that would help it handle its heavy debt and millions of dollars in losses projected for this year. Hospital sources said those recommendations will likely include the imminent layoffs of as many as 100 people or 10 percent of the hospital’s work force.

Though Cafasso said CRMC would be forthcoming about its turnaround plans, board members and other hospital managers have refused repeated requests to discuss the restructuring.

ROL