The president of Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and two other top executives are leaving the hospital after federal regulators began investigating a serious mistake that led to a patient death, the latest in a series of care lapses in recent years.

Doug Lawson will replace Gay Nord as president, the hospital said in a news release Monday morning. Lawson will continue in his role as CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives Texas Division, which oversees Baylor St. Luke's and 15 other hospitals across the state.

Jennifer Nitschmann, the hospital's chief nursing officer, and David Berger, the hospital's senior vice president of operations, also "have left their roles," the hospital announced.

The announcement comes after a yearlong investigation by the Houston Chronicle and ProPublica that uncovered serious problems that led to a high rate of patient deaths following heart transplants at St. Luke's. In August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services terminated federal funding for heart transplants at St. Luke's, citing the hospital's failure to make changes needed to improve outcomes.

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: HoustonChronicle.com uncovers serious problems at St. Luke's

The leadership shakeup follows a new CMS investigation. According to the hospital's announcement, regulators initiated the review following an emergency room death caused by a serious error. The patient died after a blood transfusion, having received the wrong type, the hospital said.

Marc Shapiro, chairman the St. Luke's board of directors, said in a statement that the hospital "has faced significant challenges over the last year," and that the board determined "aggressive action" was needed to turn things around.

"CMS's review raises concerns that are simply unacceptable to the Board or the hospital's owners, CHI and the Baylor College of Medicine," Shapiro said.

Nord became Baylor St. Luke's president in Oct 2016. She succeeded Wayne Keathley, who was named to the role when Baylor and CHI announced their expanded partnership in January 2014.

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