The board of the state public hospital system known as Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has ousted its chief executive officer Bruce Anderson.

HHSC board chairman Avery Chumbley confirmed the board has taken action to remove Anderson as president and CEO and will release a public statement later today.

Anderson, former head of the state Department of Health, was named CEO in March 2011, succeeding interim CEO Alice Hall.

Anderson was at odds with the board over a controversial move to privatize part of the HHSC system with Banner Health, according to sources involved with HHSC who asked not to be identified because the information hasn’t been publicly released. 

HHSC also has faced scrutiny because the cost to convert to electronic medical records at its 14 public hospitals will likely exceed $100 million over five years, nearly double earlier projections.

Anderson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.