Support for Salard overwhelming at meeting

The Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors met in open session on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the James and Elsie Nolan Center to elect new officers after the Oct. 2 general election, to discuss the search for a new full-time administrator, and to provide an update on the construction of the new hospital on Wood Street.

Before proceeding, elections were held for board positions – and each of the four members holding office; President Woody Wilson, vice president Bernie Massin, secretary Terri Henson, and treasurer Cori Robinson were re-elected. All the seats except Wilson’s were re-elected unanimously, with board member Barbara Conine opposing his selection.

Board members Judy Allen and Dorothy Hunt-Sweat did not attend.

In persons to be heard, a total of 10 Wrangell residents spoke up – unanimously – in favor of the board reconsidering privileging for Dr. Greg Salard at WMC.

Speaking up first, and most strongly, Bill Knecht questioned the board on why there has been no forward motion in Salard’s application to work at the hospital.

“I’m here to ask you to stop playing your personal and political games,” Knecht began. “You have been elected to this position to correct problems that have been done by a previous, recalled board. The public has been waiting for two months to have our doctor’s privileges reinstated, and after two months we have received a letter.”

Beth Kuehn, a nurse at WMC also presented a letter to the board, via Salard’s wife, Laura, where she defended the physician.

“I remain incredulous, ashamed and furious that this talented, willing physician is not available to us in the hospital and the emergency room where he excels; this is an abomination,” her letter reads in part. “We have lost three physicians since the date of my hire, (with) Dr. Salard having been forced out by the former, recalled WMC board and the administrator.”

Dr. Lynn Prysunka, who is director of quality improvement at Tideline clinic, and is a member of staff at the hospital, also spoke up about the privileging of her fellow physician and how an issue like this affects not only a doctor but also a community.

“There was no good reason for Salard to lose his privileges,” Prysunka said. “It becomes a black mark on his record, and no doctor wants to come to a community that has done that to a colleague.”

Those speaking up in favor of Salard may have been addressing a moot point, however, as the physician presented the board with a letter – the one referred to by Knecht – where he asked them to put any consideration of his privileging on hold.

“Based on the advice of counsel, I request that the board put my application and request for reconsideration regarding privileges on hold, effective October 18, 2012,” the letter states. “We recently received (a) letter from the board’s counsel, Mr. Hillman, and we are going to take additional time to consider what to do next.”

The letter from WMC attorney Roger Hillman referenced by Salard was sent to the physician’s attorney, Lee Holen, on Oct. 4 and in it, advised the board to not move forward with any consideration of Salard’s privileging “consistent with Judge Miller’s order of August 28, 2012.”

Hillman’s letter goes on to state that the order directs that “‘Dr. Salard shall dismiss this appeal without prejudice,’ given that the WMC Board has granted his request for reconsideration. The Board will not move forward with consideration of this application unless and until this dismissal has been finalized and confirmed.”

According to Wilson, who spoke after an executive session regarding credentialing – a meeting where Salard said he was present – no reportable action was taken.

Under Alaska State law, credentialing matters fall outside the scope of the Open Meetings Act, and actions taken in such sessions are not disclosable to the public.

In interim administrator Barbara Bigelow’s report to the board she informed them that the most recent state survey found no deficiencies in the long-term care portion of the facility, and that only a few findings had been made in other parts of the hospital – but that those problems had been corrected.

There are currently 12 residents in long-term care.

In terms of the search for a new administrator, Wilson informed the board and public that the hospital and borough have up to a full year to find a permanent replacement for the position.

“What is it we’re looking for in a CEO,” Wilson queried. “It’s pretty important that you think about that and consider their traits. And, in light of recent history in Wrangell, we should include asking the community what is it they’re looking for in a CEO for this hospital.”

Wilson said he would like to work with the public to gather that information and create a checklist that would start the process of acquiring applications for the position.

The next regular meeting of the board is set for Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. The location is to be determined.