Has Oconee lost its hospital board representative?

Questions arise as to whether Oconee has lost its representative on the policy-making board of the Greenville Health System.  According to a Greenville News report yesterday, the Greenville County Legislative Delegation voted to remove Oconee businessman Rick Phillips from the GHS Board of Trustees.  No reason given, and a 101.7/WGOG NEWS attempt to reach Phillips yesterday was unsuccessful.  Hunter Kome, president of OMC’s Greenville campus, referred us to the GHS spokeswoman for comment on changes in the hospital system governance and how they affect whether the Oconee area will continue to have a seat on the policy-making board.  Members of Oconee’s State Legislative Delegation reacted with surprise.  Representative Bill Sandifer, in whose district Oconee Memorial is located, said he had advised a member of the Greenville Delegation two years ago that Oconee deserved to have a voice on the GHS board.  And Sandifer said he holds to that belief today.