Turmoil Again at SoHum Hospital
Once again a meeting is being held at the Southern Humboldt Community Hospital and an angry letter is circulating urging residents to attend. Today at 1pm in the Dimmick room locals are being asked to show their support for Dr. Phelps by attending. According to the letter, “board President Nancy Wilson and our administrator Harry Jaspar have only served to further alienate Dr. Mark Phelps and his resignation is getting closer and closer.”
Also at issue are motivational materials based on the book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Darryl Cherney, board member, alleges in a letter that the ideas promoted “… are somewhere between laughable and scary.” The book, a bestseller, is well known and respected in business circles.
Below is the letter.
Friends,
Our board President Nancy Wilson and our administrator Harry Jaspar have only served to further alienate Dr. Mark Phelps and his resignation is getting closer and closer. It now turns out that Administrator Harry Jaspar is a following of Stephen R. Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, published by a company and written by a person with serious right wing leanings, military and nuclear ties and support of Proposition 8 (anti gay marriage) and the tea party candidate for Senate in Utah this year. Covey, a former Bishop in the Mormon Church, conducts seminars that are reminiscent of cult groups–high fever sales pitches. “Say no to good” is one slogan. They only settle for GREAT. If you don’t state your “Wildly Important Goals” (WIGS) you will fail. How this applies to the day to day operations of healing sick people is irrelevant to me. Further, it seems that there could be a divide between the people who follow Covey at the district and those who don’t and won’t. I believe it is this rigid discipline that frowns on good solid competency in favor of “greatness” that is behind the intransigence of our administration.
Board President Nancy Wilson has yet again refused Dr. Mark Phelps a meeting with the board, as if her (and former bd. member) Mike Thompson’s last refusal and its reaction didn’t sink in. Mark is about to give a deadline for getting these matters resolved. The administration is spending money on lawyers and consultants rather than addressing the issues at hand. Further Nancy refuses to review these Covey materials that are being handed to staff–which I believe are at the root of some of these major problems. Now there is an all day workshop being proposed to indoctrinate us into the Covey way. Having reviewed Covey’s materials, they are somewhere between laughable and scary. While Nancy Wilson and Harry Jaspar point out that Covey is used by the Fortune 500 and the State of California, look where they are at right now–in economic collapse. I have requested and not yet received any empirical evidence to show people who take these courses do better.
So Nancy Wilson has refused to give Dr. Phelps a meeting and refused to put Covey on the agenda for discussion.
Please come this Thursday, 1 pm in the Dimmick Room at the Phelps Hospital in Garberville and let your voices be heard.
Darryl
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It’s unfortunate that Daryl will probably drive out the only really competent administrator the hospital has ever had.
Mark will have an impossible time finding another job that pays as much and gives him as much power as his current one. And he will be forced to code correctly. I don’t think he has a clue what the real world out there is like.
It’s unfortunate that Daryl will probably drive out the only really competent administrator the hospital has ever had.
Mark will have an impossible time finding another job that pays as much and gives him as much power as his current one. And he will be forced to code correctly. I don’t think he has a clue what the real world out there is like.
I have the utmost trust and respect for Dr. Mark Phelps. He is, a the present time, providing for the healthcare needs in the local community.
No matter how right, or wrong, the board and administration is, they by themselves cannot provide for our healthcare. If they are indeed effective, and think that Doctor Phelps is out of line, they would have already replaced him. So far all I see is power plays. To not meet with Dr. Phelps seems to be foolish and punitive. We as a community will be the losers if this stalemate is not resolved amicably.
I have the utmost trust and respect for Dr. Mark Phelps. He is, a the present time, providing for the healthcare needs in the local community.
No matter how right, or wrong, the board and administration is, they by themselves cannot provide for our healthcare. If they are indeed effective, and think that Doctor Phelps is out of line, they would have already replaced him. So far all I see is power plays. To not meet with Dr. Phelps seems to be foolish and punitive. We as a community will be the losers if this stalemate is not resolved amicably.
It would be nice to get a clear, independent view of the problem between Dr. Phelps and the Board and a history of the disagreement. While Cherney makes many relevant points, his overall tone and use of language is, at its root, inflammatory and melodramatic. Our little hospital–and Redwoods Rural for that matter–are critical front lines of care in this community. Perhaps Ms. Wilson, Mr. Jaspar, Dr. Phelps and Mr. Cherney need to “step back from the brink” and work TOGETHER for the community and not accuse each other of various political affiliations and nefarious intentions. Too much is at stake. Perhaps those who can make it to the Dimmick room at 1 pm can show up to support the mission of community healthcare and to support the healthcare service entity that is Phelps Hospital–rather than picking sides in a fight. Thanks, Robin (medically uninsurable Sohum resident)
It would be nice to get a clear, independent view of the problem between Dr. Phelps and the Board and a history of the disagreement. While Cherney makes many relevant points, his overall tone and use of language is, at its root, inflammatory and melodramatic. Our little hospital–and Redwoods Rural for that matter–are critical front lines of care in this community. Perhaps Ms. Wilson, Mr. Jaspar, Dr. Phelps and Mr. Cherney need to “step back from the brink” and work TOGETHER for the community and not accuse each other of various political affiliations and nefarious intentions. Too much is at stake. Perhaps those who can make it to the Dimmick room at 1 pm can show up to support the mission of community healthcare and to support the healthcare service entity that is Phelps Hospital–rather than picking sides in a fight. Thanks, Robin (medically uninsurable Sohum resident)
I don’t know anything about this issue, but as a transplant to this area I have noticed that there often seems to be difficulty in compromise and amicable resolution. But, of course, one of the things I love about this place is the strong and varied opinions, so I guess impassioned differences goes with the territory.
I don’t know anything about this issue, but as a transplant to this area I have noticed that there often seems to be difficulty in compromise and amicable resolution. But, of course, one of the things I love about this place is the strong and varied opinions, so I guess impassioned differences goes with the territory.
Violet, and ‘code correctly’ means exactly what? As if diagnosing is a foolproof venture!! Practicing medicine…yes they guess. In my experience they code the visit to best maintain a good & continuous, if needed, level of service; and to insure that the visit will be covered by your insurance provider. Recently i was forced to deal with a strange skin/nail ailment that could point to a wide variety of ailments, some very serious. My dermatologist played the same ‘coding’ game to insure my chest xray (to rule out LUNG CANCER for christs sake!) and blood work would be covered . luckily all is well, and it is most likely a garden variety psoriasis disorder (which is poorly understood – like too many other ‘conditions’ fyi…) realistically humans are plagued by a variety of ailments that often mask or mimic other conditions so lets not get picky with how the MDS all navigate the ‘system.’ Really all im saying is Code games, are universal in my experience.
Violet, and ‘code correctly’ means exactly what? As if diagnosing is a foolproof venture!! Practicing medicine…yes they guess. In my experience they code the visit to best maintain a good & continuous, if needed, level of service; and to insure that the visit will be covered by your insurance provider. Recently i was forced to deal with a strange skin/nail ailment that could point to a wide variety of ailments, some very serious. My dermatologist played the same ‘coding’ game to insure my chest xray (to rule out LUNG CANCER for christs sake!) and blood work would be covered . luckily all is well, and it is most likely a garden variety psoriasis disorder (which is poorly understood – like too many other ‘conditions’ fyi…) realistically humans are plagued by a variety of ailments that often mask or mimic other conditions so lets not get picky with how the MDS all navigate the ‘system.’ Really all im saying is Code games, are universal in my experience.
Coding is very simple. One takes one’s Palm pilot and looks up the diagnosis and codes the billing sheet. No brainer. It’s as simple as that. I know; I do coding.
Apparently, Dr Phelps refuses to use his Palm.
And Ernie, don’t believe everything Daryl says. The hospital board is not refusing to meet with Mark; they are delaying the meeting until the coding expert has done the analysis. I wonder if you have always had such faith in Daryl. Strange bed fellows.
And ask Mark why he makes an agreement with the hospital, goes home and Brook throws a fit and he comes back and reneges on the agreement.
Coding is very simple. One takes one’s Palm pilot and looks up the diagnosis and codes the billing sheet. No brainer. It’s as simple as that. I know; I do coding.
Apparently, Dr Phelps refuses to use his Palm.
And Ernie, don’t believe everything Daryl says. The hospital board is not refusing to meet with Mark; they are delaying the meeting until the coding expert has done the analysis. I wonder if you have always had such faith in Daryl. Strange bed fellows.
And ask Mark why he makes an agreement with the hospital, goes home and Brook throws a fit and he comes back and reneges on the agreement.
Did anyone attend the meeting? (I would have, but I just got home from a trip at midnight last night.)
Did anyone attend the meeting? (I would have, but I just got home from a trip at midnight last night.)
Yeah, I was there from one till the 3 hour break. I hear the meeting continued until sometime after 6:30PM. I agree with Violet about some of the issues and about her information. There are four candidates for appointment to the vacant board seat. Two of the four were present. The board could not break the deadlock 2 to 2 voting pattern, except in the case of one candidate. About that one they agreed on no thanks. Some very inappropriate statements were made by board member Cherney. Dr. Phelps revealed he didn’t understand the coding situation or the need for a certified person in charge of coding and billing and other matters. One member of the public who used to work for the hospital was near in tears at the lack of decorum and sheer mean energy going on at times. Dr. Phelps noted that he had signed the contract, or part of the contract, the part that gives him a bunch more money so he can buy even more malpractice insurance. Other issues are up in the air still.
Meanwhile the hospital faces a 2012 earthquake retrofit deadline. The CEO seems to have found a possible loan/grant and for the first time in 10 years the district could possibly get it. Because for the first time in 10 years or more the district is solvent.
Yeah, I was there from one till the 3 hour break. I hear the meeting continued until sometime after 6:30PM. I agree with Violet about some of the issues and about her information. There are four candidates for appointment to the vacant board seat. Two of the four were present. The board could not break the deadlock 2 to 2 voting pattern, except in the case of one candidate. About that one they agreed on no thanks. Some very inappropriate statements were made by board member Cherney. Dr. Phelps revealed he didn’t understand the coding situation or the need for a certified person in charge of coding and billing and other matters. One member of the public who used to work for the hospital was near in tears at the lack of decorum and sheer mean energy going on at times. Dr. Phelps noted that he had signed the contract, or part of the contract, the part that gives him a bunch more money so he can buy even more malpractice insurance. Other issues are up in the air still.
Meanwhile the hospital faces a 2012 earthquake retrofit deadline. The CEO seems to have found a possible loan/grant and for the first time in 10 years the district could possibly get it. Because for the first time in 10 years or more the district is solvent.
Darryl Cherney, board member, alleges in a letter that the ideas promoted “… are somewhere between laughable and scary.”
I think Darryl is somewhere between laughable and scary. I lean toward scary. They chose not to take on a very credible man who has been on the finance committee and has no axe to grind. I was happy when Gary Wellborn offered himself up to serve the community. He would have been/will be very good. Ed doesn’t know what’s going on, he just does what Darryl says.
The place is in the black, Harry is doing something very right. Mark is making more money than he would anywhere else in Humboldt Co. I love Mark too and know he’s done a great job healing our community for his whole career but it’s not his name on the letterhead.
Darryl Cherney, board member, alleges in a letter that the ideas promoted “… are somewhere between laughable and scary.”
I think Darryl is somewhere between laughable and scary. I lean toward scary. They chose not to take on a very credible man who has been on the finance committee and has no axe to grind. I was happy when Gary Wellborn offered himself up to serve the community. He would have been/will be very good. Ed doesn’t know what’s going on, he just does what Darryl says.
The place is in the black, Harry is doing something very right. Mark is making more money than he would anywhere else in Humboldt Co. I love Mark too and know he’s done a great job healing our community for his whole career but it’s not his name on the letterhead.
Has anybody actually looked at Stephen R. Covey’s website? I just did. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are just the usual management/motivational blah blah blah: plan ahead, listen, work as a team, etc. It doesn’t matter what church Covey belongs to, or what political party,– the book and the training are completely innocuous. I don’t blame people for not wanting to spend time listening to this tedious stuff, but it’s not a good reason for a major uprising.
Regarding the coding controversy, this seems like something that can be worked out among reasonable people but certain elements are exploiting it for their own personal aggrandizement, in my opinion.
Mark is a wonderful doctor and Harry has done a great job guiding this district into solvency, Both of them are essential to the community. Maybe they have some differences that can be resolved, and maybe they have some that can’t. But let’s focus on the issues and stick to the point.
My impression after going to many board meetings (I missed the last one as I was out of town — that’s my last vacation!) is that certain people see the hospital board meetings as a stage on which they can act out their pyschodrama. Get over it!!!! The sad thing is that these same people actually have many constructive things to say as well, but they are diminishing their own effectiveness with the drama.
Finally, after all these months, it’s time Darryl learned to spell Harry’s last name: Jasper with an “e.”
Has anybody actually looked at Stephen R. Covey’s website? I just did. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are just the usual management/motivational blah blah blah: plan ahead, listen, work as a team, etc. It doesn’t matter what church Covey belongs to, or what political party,– the book and the training are completely innocuous. I don’t blame people for not wanting to spend time listening to this tedious stuff, but it’s not a good reason for a major uprising.
Regarding the coding controversy, this seems like something that can be worked out among reasonable people but certain elements are exploiting it for their own personal aggrandizement, in my opinion.
Mark is a wonderful doctor and Harry has done a great job guiding this district into solvency, Both of them are essential to the community. Maybe they have some differences that can be resolved, and maybe they have some that can’t. But let’s focus on the issues and stick to the point.
My impression after going to many board meetings (I missed the last one as I was out of town — that’s my last vacation!) is that certain people see the hospital board meetings as a stage on which they can act out their pyschodrama. Get over it!!!! The sad thing is that these same people actually have many constructive things to say as well, but they are diminishing their own effectiveness with the drama.
Finally, after all these months, it’s time Darryl learned to spell Harry’s last name: Jasper with an “e.”