Dr. Mark Phelps and Healthcare District Board at Loggerheads

Thursday’s Healthcare District Board meeting at 1pm should be tense.  Dr. Mark Phelps, lead physician, is “considering leaving.”  And Mike Thompson from the board executive committee has “suggested that the clinic will do fine without him.”

Below is a letter from Darryl Cherney asking community members to attend and support Phelps.

Friends,
I am pleading with you to attend the next Healthcare District Board meeting this Thursday, April 28 at 1 pm to express your opinion and to support Dr. Phelps in his quest for administrative sanity and to remain at our institution.
Our community physician–Dr. Mark Phelps–has suffered too much at the hands of the Healthcare District and is considering leaving.
He has outlined his latest specifics and requested a meeting with the board in closed session, as this is a personnel matter.  The board executive committee–Nancy Wilson and Mike Thompson--have refused his request.  Mike Thompson has even suggested that the clinic will do fine without him.  In my opinion, hundreds of patients would flock to wherever he went next, including myself.
The reason for the refusal has been couched in fabricated legal premises that are actually the opposite of what is actually legally allowed and advised.  I am personally tired of arguing the basic facts with Mike “Stonewall” Thompson and Nancy Wilson when the real mission is to provide quality health care in the form of expanded services and better treatment of staff.
I have written a letter asking that our administrator and two executive committee members resign in order to save our hospital.  The passive aggressive mumbo jumbo is more than I or any normal human being should have to withstand.
And for the record, I am not running for reelection, so if any of you are interested, contact me and I’ll run you through the ropes to get on the ballot.
Please call me at 707/223 3788 if you have any questions.
For better healthcare for all,
Darryl Cherney
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39 Comments
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Kim (not Kym)
Guest
Kim (not Kym)
13 years ago

Only email I could find for SHCHD for those who can’t go to the meeting to send a not to the board.

[email protected]

Kim (not Kym)
Guest
Kim (not Kym)
13 years ago

Only email I could find for SHCHD for those who can’t go to the meeting to send a not to the board.

[email protected]

Kim (not Kym)
Guest
Kim (not Kym)
13 years ago

note – dang it

Kim (not Kym)
Guest
Kim (not Kym)
13 years ago

note – dang it

bobbi
Guest
13 years ago

this is very disturbing.. wish I would of known about this earlier. How very sad.

Ben
Guest
Ben
13 years ago

Kym… I spent many harrowing years on the board at Redwoods Rural Health Center. The world of health care is very difficult these days. When board members meet privately with staff and become the representatives of specific staff members in their board actions, they have failed in their public duty. When a board member independently calls for resignations from staff and other board members he (Daryl) weakens the institution he is directing. Anyone engaging in name calling e.g. “stonewall” is out of line. Daryl dares not call Nancy names as he knows how beloved she is in this community. I have nothing but respect for Mark Phelps and I’m sorry to hear that he is having problems with staff. These problems should be solved in house rather than with a huge and damaging outcry such a Daryl has produced. Daryl was appointed to the board and has never been elected. He has done great work promoting fundraising but this letter is unfortunate and damaging to th Hospital/Clinic.

Ben
Guest
Ben
13 years ago

Kym… I spent many harrowing years on the board at Redwoods Rural Health Center. The world of health care is very difficult these days. When board members meet privately with staff and become the representatives of specific staff members in their board actions, they have failed in their public duty. When a board member independently calls for resignations from staff and other board members he (Daryl) weakens the institution he is directing. Anyone engaging in name calling e.g. “stonewall” is out of line. Daryl dares not call Nancy names as he knows how beloved she is in this community. I have nothing but respect for Mark Phelps and I’m sorry to hear that he is having problems with staff. These problems should be solved in house rather than with a huge and damaging outcry such a Daryl has produced. Daryl was appointed to the board and has never been elected. He has done great work promoting fundraising but this letter is unfortunate and damaging to th Hospital/Clinic.

marian greenlaw
Guest
13 years ago

It would be a very sad day if Dr. Mark Phelps leaves the garberville clinic and hospital. He is the one person anyone can talk to and not feel any different than the next person. What in the heck is the matter with the administration there. They dont know how good they have it with Dr. Phelps. I no longer live in the area but I was there for fifteen years and know the good that man does for the community. Mike Thompson and Nancy Wilson can be replaced a lot eaiser than the doctor. Maybe you should think about that and get on with the purpose of helping the community and leave the politics out of healing the needy.

marian greenlaw
Guest
13 years ago

It would be a very sad day if Dr. Mark Phelps leaves the garberville clinic and hospital. He is the one person anyone can talk to and not feel any different than the next person. What in the heck is the matter with the administration there. They dont know how good they have it with Dr. Phelps. I no longer live in the area but I was there for fifteen years and know the good that man does for the community. Mike Thompson and Nancy Wilson can be replaced a lot eaiser than the doctor. Maybe you should think about that and get on with the purpose of helping the community and leave the politics out of healing the needy.

Rick
Guest
Rick
13 years ago

The people of Southern Humboldt have always loved the Phelps Family, They are an extension of our own famlies. Losing Mark at the Jerold Phelps Community Hospital would be a major blow to health care. Lets get rid of the Administrator as well as the Mike Thompson and Nancy Wilson instead!

Rick
Guest
Rick
13 years ago

The people of Southern Humboldt have always loved the Phelps Family, They are an extension of our own famlies. Losing Mark at the Jerold Phelps Community Hospital would be a major blow to health care. Lets get rid of the Administrator as well as the Mike Thompson and Nancy Wilson instead!

Violet
Guest
Violet
13 years ago

I don’t think it’s a good idea to judge what is going on here. We don’t know all the details and Harry Jasper, the administrator, has made some long overdue changes. This needs to be handled in-house and a board member going public is very destructive.

Mark can say whatever he chooses in public, but the board is bound by law to keep personnel issues confidential. Consequently, they can’t really publicize their side or defend themselves.

The situation is sad, but it doesn’t really serve a useful purpose to jump in emotionally without the whole story.

Violet
Guest
Violet
13 years ago

I don’t think it’s a good idea to judge what is going on here. We don’t know all the details and Harry Jasper, the administrator, has made some long overdue changes. This needs to be handled in-house and a board member going public is very destructive.

Mark can say whatever he chooses in public, but the board is bound by law to keep personnel issues confidential. Consequently, they can’t really publicize their side or defend themselves.

The situation is sad, but it doesn’t really serve a useful purpose to jump in emotionally without the whole story.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago

I use to work in the clinic and left only because I found true love in San Jose. There are a lot of things that people don’t see that goes on behind close doors. I have heard patients names being slandered by Dr. phelps and his wife Brook that is inappropriate to begin with but to say things infrony if their employees is another thing. Not a very professional place to work at and I’m glad to not be there anymore. The board is doing the right thing as they are on to what Dr. Phelps and Brook are up to. I’ve seen it first hand and know this to be true.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago

I use to work in the clinic and left only because I found true love in San Jose. There are a lot of things that people don’t see that goes on behind close doors. I have heard patients names being slandered by Dr. phelps and his wife Brook that is inappropriate to begin with but to say things infrony if their employees is another thing. Not a very professional place to work at and I’m glad to not be there anymore. The board is doing the right thing as they are on to what Dr. Phelps and Brook are up to. I’ve seen it first hand and know this to be true.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago

And one more thing. Ever since Daryl has been on the board he hasn’t really been part of the team. He has been working against the hospital board since day one. There us just so much that the community does not know about Daryl and Phelps relationship. I have overheard conversations that no one knows about as I didn’t want to stir things up as my job was more important to me. If anyone needs to go I think it should be Daryl. He doesn’t play well with others…………

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago

And one more thing. Ever since Daryl has been on the board he hasn’t really been part of the team. He has been working against the hospital board since day one. There us just so much that the community does not know about Daryl and Phelps relationship. I have overheard conversations that no one knows about as I didn’t want to stir things up as my job was more important to me. If anyone needs to go I think it should be Daryl. He doesn’t play well with others…………

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
13 years ago

Having served for a number of years on the district board I am somewhat familiar with the ongoing conflict between Mark Phelps and some of the staff. As it is a personel issue I will not go into details. I can say that Mark has had issues with administration long before Mr. Jasper arrived. Going back as far as the mid 90s Mark and administration have been at odds on several occasions . It is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Cherney has the habit of generating a crisis atmosphere around issues that are ongoing and as he well knows cannot be responded to by the board due to their pesonal nature.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
13 years ago

Having served for a number of years on the district board I am somewhat familiar with the ongoing conflict between Mark Phelps and some of the staff. As it is a personel issue I will not go into details. I can say that Mark has had issues with administration long before Mr. Jasper arrived. Going back as far as the mid 90s Mark and administration have been at odds on several occasions . It is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Cherney has the habit of generating a crisis atmosphere around issues that are ongoing and as he well knows cannot be responded to by the board due to their pesonal nature.

Marc
Guest
Marc
13 years ago

Looks like some confusion and misinformation being posted here.
In the posts made above by Tracy she has neglected to state that she is the daughter of board member Mike Thompson. I thought this whole thing was about Dr. Phelps not being allowed to meet with the board in closed session. Mr. Cherney appears to be attempting to address this issue. If Dr. Phelps does indeed leave I believe the majority of his patients will follow him to another practice and the hospital and clinic will lose a great deal of revenue. This concerns me not only as a patient, but as someone who helps support this hospital with my property tax dollars.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Didnt realize it was an issue to who I am the daughter of, but yes I am the daughter of Mike Thompson and proud of it. At the beginning, everybody wanted my dad to run for the hospital board. He helped with getting everyone the raises that were deserved, but now that the clinic isnt getting what they want as much anymore, all they can do is complain and put people down that arent doing what they want. Typical!!! Like I said, I worked in the clinic and stayed professional when it came to my dad being on the board. We never discussed things that went on at work and he never said anything that was going on with the board and hospital. We stayed as daughter and father and that was it. However, my supervisor and some of her followers would come to me with their issues with my dad (to whatever they didnt believe) and try to bring me into to it all. At that point, I did go to my father so that maybe this could be put to rest. All I wanted to do was to do my job and go home. I didnt want the drama that there is and always was in that clinic. All I was trying to say earlier is that no one knows what goes on behind close doors in that clinic as I saw most of it as I was there. And ever since Daryl Cherny has been on board, he has done nothing but cause havoc amongst his fellow board members. Doesnt that worry anybody? Would me…………

Marc
Guest
Marc
13 years ago

Looks like some confusion and misinformation being posted here.
In the posts made above by Tracy she has neglected to state that she is the daughter of board member Mike Thompson. I thought this whole thing was about Dr. Phelps not being allowed to meet with the board in closed session. Mr. Cherney appears to be attempting to address this issue. If Dr. Phelps does indeed leave I believe the majority of his patients will follow him to another practice and the hospital and clinic will lose a great deal of revenue. This concerns me not only as a patient, but as someone who helps support this hospital with my property tax dollars.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Didnt realize it was an issue to who I am the daughter of, but yes I am the daughter of Mike Thompson and proud of it. At the beginning, everybody wanted my dad to run for the hospital board. He helped with getting everyone the raises that were deserved, but now that the clinic isnt getting what they want as much anymore, all they can do is complain and put people down that arent doing what they want. Typical!!! Like I said, I worked in the clinic and stayed professional when it came to my dad being on the board. We never discussed things that went on at work and he never said anything that was going on with the board and hospital. We stayed as daughter and father and that was it. However, my supervisor and some of her followers would come to me with their issues with my dad (to whatever they didnt believe) and try to bring me into to it all. At that point, I did go to my father so that maybe this could be put to rest. All I wanted to do was to do my job and go home. I didnt want the drama that there is and always was in that clinic. All I was trying to say earlier is that no one knows what goes on behind close doors in that clinic as I saw most of it as I was there. And ever since Daryl Cherny has been on board, he has done nothing but cause havoc amongst his fellow board members. Doesnt that worry anybody? Would me…………

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Karen
Guest
Karen
13 years ago

WOW, Tracy! I can’t believe you are getting into the middle of this. Talk about burning bridges. When you say Daryl should go, he already IS! All Dr. Phelps wanted was to air his grievances to the board. Now after all this hoopla, they have decided to ALLOW him his day in closed session. If only they had done that weeks ago.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Karen

Sorry Karen but it’s called Freedom of speech. It’s the truth and how I feel even if my father wasn’t on the board and being called names. Keep in mind that he was the board member that took the time to listen to us and to care enough to get us raises that most people hadn’t had for years.

Karen
Guest
Karen
13 years ago

WOW, Tracy! I can’t believe you are getting into the middle of this. Talk about burning bridges. When you say Daryl should go, he already IS! All Dr. Phelps wanted was to air his grievances to the board. Now after all this hoopla, they have decided to ALLOW him his day in closed session. If only they had done that weeks ago.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Karen

Sorry Karen but it’s called Freedom of speech. It’s the truth and how I feel even if my father wasn’t on the board and being called names. Keep in mind that he was the board member that took the time to listen to us and to care enough to get us raises that most people hadn’t had for years.

Karen
Guest
Karen
13 years ago

You got a raise?! That’s great, I guess only a chosen few got raises. Maybe it was your connections. My counterpart @ Redwood Memorial makes almost $10.00 more an hour than I do. I am there for the patients that appreciate me. But it would be nice to be properly compensated. Like some of the newer employees at the hospital.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Karen

Karen. I’m done with this conversation as it is going no where. I’m glad to be gone from the drama and you are right. I should have stayed out of this one. But when your father is being attacked, wouldn’t you stand up for what you think is right? I was treated horribly at that clinic (except from a very few co workers), I was manippulated and backstabbed many times by my own supervisor and yet that seems to be okay. Must be the small town thing and okay to do. Whatever the case I never, ever got special treatment because my dad was on the board. I worked for the clinic for a couple of years before he ever was put on that hospital board. So, once again, sorry if my post bothered you but I had to speak my mind as I’m tired of Darryl slandering my fathers name. I don’t work or live up there anymore so I have nothing to lose by speaking the truth. Mike Thompson only wants what’s best for that community and has never had any agenda other then that. It never made or got me anywhere special having him on that board and i resent that previous comment of yours saying so. It takes everyone on that board to make things final not just one person.

Karen
Guest
Karen
13 years ago

You got a raise?! That’s great, I guess only a chosen few got raises. Maybe it was your connections. My counterpart @ Redwood Memorial makes almost $10.00 more an hour than I do. I am there for the patients that appreciate me. But it would be nice to be properly compensated. Like some of the newer employees at the hospital.

Tracy
Guest
Tracy
13 years ago
Reply to  Karen

Karen. I’m done with this conversation as it is going no where. I’m glad to be gone from the drama and you are right. I should have stayed out of this one. But when your father is being attacked, wouldn’t you stand up for what you think is right? I was treated horribly at that clinic (except from a very few co workers), I was manippulated and backstabbed many times by my own supervisor and yet that seems to be okay. Must be the small town thing and okay to do. Whatever the case I never, ever got special treatment because my dad was on the board. I worked for the clinic for a couple of years before he ever was put on that hospital board. So, once again, sorry if my post bothered you but I had to speak my mind as I’m tired of Darryl slandering my fathers name. I don’t work or live up there anymore so I have nothing to lose by speaking the truth. Mike Thompson only wants what’s best for that community and has never had any agenda other then that. It never made or got me anywhere special having him on that board and i resent that previous comment of yours saying so. It takes everyone on that board to make things final not just one person.

Rick
Guest
Rick
13 years ago

I am pleased to hear that Dr. Mark will be getting his closed door session with the board, I hope that it ends with a meeting of the minds between them all. Dr. Mark and his Father have given of themselves for many years in our community when they could have gone elsewhere. I myself am grateful that they decided to stick with us. The Administrators, Board Members, Managers, Outsourcing Ideas, all ebb and flow. The Administrator and the Board Members are to be appreciated for their efforts and sacrafice , however in no way has any one of them been with us for near the amount of time as the Phelps. I am sure that they are all well intentioned and I hope that an atmosphere of understanding and co-operation will win out with the Board and Dr. Mark. I also appreciate all the work from the Staff at SHCHCD and hope that they will do a pay parity study on the staff and see what they can do toward making their pay comparable to others working the same jobs. Thanks to all.

Rick
Guest
Rick
13 years ago

I am pleased to hear that Dr. Mark will be getting his closed door session with the board, I hope that it ends with a meeting of the minds between them all. Dr. Mark and his Father have given of themselves for many years in our community when they could have gone elsewhere. I myself am grateful that they decided to stick with us. The Administrators, Board Members, Managers, Outsourcing Ideas, all ebb and flow. The Administrator and the Board Members are to be appreciated for their efforts and sacrafice , however in no way has any one of them been with us for near the amount of time as the Phelps. I am sure that they are all well intentioned and I hope that an atmosphere of understanding and co-operation will win out with the Board and Dr. Mark. I also appreciate all the work from the Staff at SHCHCD and hope that they will do a pay parity study on the staff and see what they can do toward making their pay comparable to others working the same jobs. Thanks to all.

Violet
Guest
Violet
13 years ago

I’m sorry this became public; it should have been dealt with in-house. I’m also sure there are two sides to this story.

I hope Mark can be heard and also be open to suggestions of change. I think that Harry has brought some valuable knowledge and skills to SoHum. I also hope he is heard.

I think both sides realize that communication is crucial and will learn from this experience. But sometimes an entrenched bureaucracy needs new ideas and guidance and I hope that everyone will consider being more open and flexible.

Violet
Guest
Violet
13 years ago

I’m sorry this became public; it should have been dealt with in-house. I’m also sure there are two sides to this story.

I hope Mark can be heard and also be open to suggestions of change. I think that Harry has brought some valuable knowledge and skills to SoHum. I also hope he is heard.

I think both sides realize that communication is crucial and will learn from this experience. But sometimes an entrenched bureaucracy needs new ideas and guidance and I hope that everyone will consider being more open and flexible.

Elisabeth
Guest
Elisabeth
13 years ago

Dr. Mark has been my physician for over 20 years and I also had the pleasure of working with him and Brooke for two years. During my two years of employment with the clinic I never heard Mark or Brook slander a patient. Anyone that truly knows them, knows that they are not the kind of people who would do that. It makes me so upset to see such negative things written about two people who work so hard at helping others. Maybe people should stop trying to stir the pot and let Dr. Mark and Brook focus on what they do so well, helping people with their health care.

Elisabeth
Guest
Elisabeth
13 years ago

Dr. Mark has been my physician for over 20 years and I also had the pleasure of working with him and Brooke for two years. During my two years of employment with the clinic I never heard Mark or Brook slander a patient. Anyone that truly knows them, knows that they are not the kind of people who would do that. It makes me so upset to see such negative things written about two people who work so hard at helping others. Maybe people should stop trying to stir the pot and let Dr. Mark and Brook focus on what they do so well, helping people with their health care.