Editor’s Note: Quotations in this report from written documents have not been edited for grammar, punctuation, spelling or clarity.

Eureka Springs Hospital’s chief financial officer, Cynthia Asbury, has completed a 60Day Performance Improvement Plan that was put in place by the city’s hospital commission, demonstrating a “noticeable and consistent modification in behavior, style of communication and positive employee interaction,” according to a Feb. 17 memorandum.

The document, obtained by the Times-Echo through an open-records request, is signed by Asbury and commission chair Sandy Martin.

It states that Asbury has “successfully accomplished all the goals” outlined in the Performance Improvement Plan.

In addition to modifying her behavior and style of communication, the memo says Asbury met with department managers to clarify the role and responsibility of the CFO, established ongoing training and re-training, demonstrated exemplary collaboration and teamwork as part of the administrative team and met with Martin at least weekly to monitor progress. The memo says new department heads “report positively” on Asbury’s teamwork and leadership.

The commission voted at a special meeting on Nov. 4 to place Asbury on the Performance Improvement Plan after receiving multiple complaints from employees of a hostile work environment and bullying. The same day, the commission held two other special meetings at which it voted to terminate nursing director Jessica Petrino and elevate human resources director Jodi Edmondson to acting CEO. Three days earlier, on Nov. 1, the commission had voted at another special meeting to terminate CEO Angie Shaw.

Petrino and Shaw later filed lawsuits against the hospital, which are pending in Carroll County Circuit Court.

In response to its request for records related to Asbury’s Performance Improvement Plan, the Times-Echo also received a memorandum signed by Martin and Asbury dated Dec. 9.

That document states that: “On December 4, 2024, the Commission voted to place Cynthia Asbury on a 60-day improvement and to conduct an internal investigation regarding certain allegations made against Asbury.”

The memo says the “PIP Period” would be from Dec. 9 through Feb. 10.

The commission vote actually occurred one month earlier than the memo says, on Nov. 4. Martin said that the date listed on the memo is a typographical error.

“The Commission takes all complaints seriously and has an obligation to investigate and determine what action should be taken,” the memo says.

“Main area of concern: Allegations by employees that Asbury ‘bullies and contributes to a hostile workplace environment.’

“Action taken: The commission and the Interim CEO have conducted separate performance evaluations for Asbury and found she meets and exceeds expectations.”

The memo goes on to say that Martin, who was selected at a Nov. 18 commission meeting to become chair effective Jan. 1, would investigate the allegations.

Hired in September 2022

Asbury was hired as an accounting manager at the hospital in September 2022 at an annual salary of $62,000, according to documents in her personnel file obtained by the Times-Echo. She was promoted to CFO in March 2023 and in April 2024 her biweekly salary was increased from $3,269.23 ($84,999.98 per year) to $3,367.31 ($87,550.06) per year.

Asbury’s application, dated Aug. 29, 2022, indicates that she obtained a bachelor of science degree in two years from Western Governors University and then obtained a master’s degree in business administration in one year from WGU, an online school in Millcreek, Utah.

The application completed by Asbury includes a section for employment history, instructing applicants to: “Start with your present or last job. Please give complete & accurate employment information.”

Asbury lists Asbury Trucking in Berryville as her employer from 2015 to present, indicating that she supervised herself.

She lists Campco Consulting of Berryville as an employer from May 2020 to June 2021, writing that she: “Overseen all finacial and billing aspects. Performed month-end closing and quarterly reports.”

Under reason for leaving, Asbury wrote: “Professional Reasons.” She checked a box on the application indicating that the hospital could not contact Campco.

Before working at Campco, Asbury’s application indicates that she worked from February 2019 to May 2020 at Thera-Play Pediatrics in Harrison, where she: “Overseen clinic operations and billing. Processed payroll. Reconciled claims.”

Asbury did not check either box to indicate whether the hospital could contact Thera-Play.

The application asks applicants to include an explanation of any gaps in employment. Asbury’s application says “NA.”

Online sources indicate that Asbury was employed at The Blossoms (formerly Autumn Hill) nursing home in Berryville. Nursinghomeinsights. com lists Asbury as a “managing employee.” Nursinghomedatabase. com indicates that Asbury is connected with one nursing home in Arkansas. Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents’ website at https://www. aanhr.org lists Asbury as an administrator at Autumn Hill.

The Blossoms was issued a $20,000 federal fine on June 6, 2022, according to Medicare. gov. No further details on that fine were available at press time.

Asbury did not respond to an email on Wednesday, March 5.

“The commission and the Interim CEO have conducted separate performance evaluations for Asbury and found she meets and exceeds expectations.”