Nathan Fawson

Nathan Fawson, CEO of Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, was suspended from his position Monday by the organization’s board of directors. 

Board member Mike Blaufuss said Fawson has been suspended for 90 days with pay. Dr. Doug Wright, who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed interim CEO. Blaufuss also serves as an Anderson County commissioner.

The announcement came via a memo sent Monday to all employees. SEKMHC board member and co-chair Dana Spencer, of Garnett, confirmed the memo’s contents but noted it was not meant for the public. “I’m not at liberty to comment on anything further at this time,” Spencer said Wednesday. Wright also offered no comment when reached by phone. Fawson did not respond to a request for comment.

Fawson’s suspension comes at a tumultuous time for the organization. In a separate action, the board also terminated its relationship with long-time legal counsel Fred Works in December, a move unrelated to Fawson’s suspension but one that further underscores the level of internal upheaval facing the organization.Doug Wright

Also up in the air is the future of the mental health center’s primary care services provided by Ashley Clinic, which SEKMHC acquired in July 2023 from a Chanute-based group of physicians. 

Board member Richard Zahn, Iola, appointed last June to one of Allen County’s two seats, told the Register Thursday that SEKMHC’s board is working with Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center administrators to “provide collaborative care” in regard to Ashley Clinic.

Zahn confirmed all Ashley Clinic surgery-based practices have been transitioned outside of SEKMHC. “That happened either last month, or early this month,” Zahn said.

The providers “were all offered alternatives, and I think all of them have found medical practice homes. They’ve certainly all been offered one,” Zahn said. A 120-day notice period for a medical practice transition was in place, Zahn said, but he did not elaborate on the possible sale of Ashley Clinic.

Efforts to reach Wendy Brazil, CEO of Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center were unsuccessful. Ashley Clinic and Neosho Memorial are located next to each other in Chanute with the clinic’s providers using the hospital. 

Ashley Clinic also has locations in Iola, Humboldt and Yates Center as well as a dental clinic in Yates Center. 

“All I can say is that we’re supportive of the mental health piece, and believe me, we will protect patients and do what’s best for them,” said Zahn.

FAWSON’s suspension comes a week after he testified in the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee. For over an hour, Fawson answered questions related to SEKMHC’s purchase of Ashley Clinic, executive pay, and the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, or CCBHC, model.

SEKMHC received provisional CCBHC certification in 2022 and full certification in 2024. In 2021, Kansas codified the CCBHC model into law with the goal of expanding access, integrating care, and improving treatment. There are at least 26 CCBHCs certified in Kansas.

Representative Doug Blex noted SEKMHC had recently dismissed surgeons and urologists. “Why were they dismissed?” Blex asked Fawson. “I’m assuming they were making you a profit.”

“I would re-term that to be us transitioning those services from our organization to our neighboring local hospital,” answered Fawson. “We had ongoing communications with them about how those services could better serve the community and could be better supported by the local hospital.”

Blex asked, “You’re praising Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center for being a total care, one-stop shop, and yet now you’re saying you’re transferring that to the hospital. And I’m hearing that Ashley Clinic is for sale. Is that the case?”