Local physician Greg Salard has filed an appeal in Alaska trial court concerning the Wrangell Medical Center (WMC) Board of Director’s decision not to grant him privileges to work at the hospital.
The appeal was filed in Wrangell court March 9, exactly a week after the WMC board, acting as the “fair hearing committee,” voted in favor of denying Salard permanent privileges to practice at the hospital.
“We’re appealing the board’s decision to the court,” Salard said this week.
Salard is employed through Alaska Island Community Services (AICS) and was previously contracted to practice at WMC on a temporary basis. Salard continues to work at the AICS clinic, but is no longer allowed to see patients in the WMC emergency room or patients in long-term care.
Salard’s contract allowing him to work at WMC expired in February of last year, and the physician later applied for permanent privileges at the hospital.
The WMC board denied Salard’s application in November, which caused the physician to request a fair review hearing regarding that decision.
The review hearing was held Feb. 21 at the WMC. And, on March 2, the WMC hearing committee reaffirmed its November decision, denying Salard his rights to practice at the hospital.
Last week, WMC Board Chair Mark Robinson said the reason the board members made the decision it did is “confidential.”
However, a letter to Salard signed by WMC Chief Executive Officer Noel Selle-Rae does give reason for the hospital board’s November decision.
“This decision is based upon a review of your conduct toward and interaction with patients, medical staff and hospital administration at Wrangell Medical Center,” the letter states.
In his appeal filed in court last week, Salard argues the WMC’s decision not to grant him privileges was not based on any competent evidence and was “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”
Salard and his attorney, Lee Holen, have also filed a “stay pending appeal” in court, as well as a motion for “expedited consideration.” This would allow Salard to work at the hospital pending a decision on his appeal.
“Expedited consideration of [Salard’s] principal motion is necessary because of the likelihood of irreparable harm to him caused by the [WMC’s] decision to deny his application for reappointment of medical privileges at the Wrangell Medical Center,” the motion states.
In the court documents submitted to court Friday, Holen argues the decision to deny Salard medical privileges is “unprecedented,” given the few allegations presented by the WMC and was not based on the quality of care provided by the physician.
“Rather, it was made on matters that were resolved, disputed or based on insignificant grounds in retaliation for his reports regarding patient care and safety at WMC,” court documents state.
At the Feb. 21 review hearing, the WMC accused Salard of being a “disruptive physician,” according to court documents filed along with Salard’s motions this past week. The WMC tried to prove Salard was a “serial harasser of young, female patients and nurses,” the court documents state.
Holen argues the complaints illustrate the “flimsy charges against Salard,” as they stem from five incidents, all of which were “exaggerated, misconstrued, or outright false,” according to the court documents.
Salard told the Sentinel these “exaggerations” incidents are completely untrue. However, even if they were true, Salard said it still does not validate WMC board’s decision to deny him the right to practice at the hospital.
“That still does not rise to the level that you would deny doctor privileges,” Salard said.
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