Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan has experienced its fifth chief executive officer departure in three years, with Daisy Rodriguez stepping down on October 6. Rodriguez, who assumed the role of CEO and chief nursing officer in early August, will continue to support the hospital as a consultant, focusing on efforts to stabilize its financial condition.

Since Rodriguez joined, the hospital has faced significant challenges, including a second consecutive denial of safety net status from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Vista Medical Center East also remains at risk of foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. As the only general hospital in northeast Lake County, Vista serves a large population of uninsured and Medicaid patients, which has placed severe pressure on its financial resources.

“I am still actively involved in developing a sustainable path for the organization,” Rodriguez said in a text message, emphasizing her commitment to maintaining access to acute care services in the community.

Kevin Spiegel, who previously served as Vista’s CEO from October 2024 to March 2025, has returned as interim CEO, replacing Rodriguez. Spiegel is the third individual to hold the chief executive position since American Healthcare Systems (AHS), a Los Angeles-based company, acquired the hospital over three years ago.

Spiegel highlighted that the hospital does not deny care to any patient in need, despite the majority of its acute and cardiac care patients being uninsured or covered by Medicaid. This patient mix creates ongoing challenges for the hospital’s revenue, which could be alleviated by obtaining safety net status.

Achieving safety net designation from HFS is viewed as a critical factor in securing financial viability, as it provides support for hospitals serving vulnerable populations. Rodriguez described attaining this status as a strategic priority, noting its potential impact on the hospital’s ability to continue offering essential services.

The loss of safety net status was cited by Spiegel as a primary reason behind Rodriguez’s departure, though she indicated her decision was influenced by multiple factors and offered no additional details.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham acknowledged the efforts by AHS to secure safety net status since its acquisition of Vista, describing the repeated denials as more than disappointing. “Safety net status is essential to a hospital operation in our community,” he said, underscoring the importance of the designation for sustaining local healthcare services.