Clinic supporters rally before Sunshine board
More than 50 concerned
people turn out at Willow
Church; 30+ testify
By John R. Moses
Publisher
The March 2007 meeting
marked the biggest audience
turnout ever for the Sunshine
Community Health Clinic’s
Board of Directors, and likely the
toughest gathering ever for the
non-profit’s managers.
Carpools started rolling into the
Willow Methodist Church lot at
6 p.m. March 27, and by
6:30 p.m. more than 50 people
filled the fellowship hall.
More than two hours and 30
speakers later the board had
accepted its executive director's
resignation, heard calls for board
resignations and sat silently
through even the most caustic
testimony about its business and
personnel practices.
Speakers defended three clinic
employees who have resigned
and called into question the
board’s basic competence at
running the clinic.
people turn out at Willow
Church; 30+ testify
By John R. Moses
Publisher
The March 2007 meeting
marked the biggest audience
turnout ever for the Sunshine
Community Health Clinic’s
Board of Directors, and likely the
toughest gathering ever for the
non-profit’s managers.
Carpools started rolling into the
Willow Methodist Church lot at
6 p.m. March 27, and by
6:30 p.m. more than 50 people
filled the fellowship hall.
More than two hours and 30
speakers later the board had
accepted its executive director's
resignation, heard calls for board
resignations and sat silently
through even the most caustic
testimony about its business and
personnel practices.
Speakers defended three clinic
employees who have resigned
and called into question the
board’s basic competence at
running the clinic.
The board announced and accepted the resignation of clinic Executive
Director Bruce Wiegman, who was on vacation but sent a resignation
letter to the directors the day before.
All but one of the speakers was critical of the board’s handling of the clinic’
s employees and some were fearful for the clinic’s future if Chief Financial
Officer Karen Holt, 14-year veteran Physician’s Assistant Jessica Stevens
and Counselor Lauren Champagne all leave the clinic.
A highly emotional Stevens pleaded with the board to open up a direct
dialogue with clinic employees and accused some directors of having
private agendas.
She said she resigned in part due to personal attacks and a feeling that she
was being blamed for deficiencies in the clinic.
Clinic employee Shelis Jorgenson tearfully urged the board not to let
Stevens get away. "I'm grieving that loss and she's not even gone yet," she
said. "She's an amazing woman."
"I'm sorry I'm being emotional," Jorgenson added,"but this is my family."
Founding board member Pam Robinson, who was there when bank
accounts were more than low and the clinic was just beginning, told the
current board, “The best thing we ever did was hire Jessica.”
A history of the clinic written in 2002 by Stevens states she was hired in
1993, and her first job was to help a patient suffering from a chainsaw
wound using expired anesthetic and a variety of on-hand cleaning
solutions while wearing a black garbage bag and plastic sacks on her feet.
In 2002, Stevens won the Phil Nice Memorial Award at the Alaska Rural
Health Conference, where she was credited with rescuing and building up
the Sunshine Clinic “to the model it is today” and for years of commitment
to improving health conditions in rural Alaska.
Stevens urged the board to abandon policies that set up barriers between
employees and the board. “I don’t believe there’s a rule that says we can’t
talk to each other tonight,” she said. Much of the frustration and anger
expressed “is because of the silence,” she said.
“Give us some hope, Doralynn.”
Board chair Doralynn Issel told the crowd that the communication
process has begun through a facilitator hired by the board, and it will
continue. “We have started; we just have to finish it.”
The board unanimously passed a resolution stating it would do whatever
was necessary to work together and solve the clinic’s problems.
Some clinic employees said they want access to the full board, not just
board committees.
Resident Ed Craver said the directors should “confront the dysfunction of
this board,” accusing them of turning a multi-million dollar clinic into “a
five-and-dime operation.”
Craver called it “inexcusable that you people choose to remove yourself
from this community.”
Referring to the board’s acceptance of the executive director’s
resignation, Talkeetna resident Larry Dearman said, “They just shot the
messenger.” He said he met the director after Dearman's wife fell inside
the clinic, and no, they did not sue. “The guy was fair, hard at work, and he
is not a ‘people person.’”
At one point board chair Issel told Dearman, who broke the rules by
turning his back to the board, that he was to address his comments to the
board instead of the audience. Dearman again turned his back to the
board, speaking directly to the audience while suggesting that the chair’s
instruction might be one sign of the “micromanagement” employees
complain about from board members.
Wiegman’s resignation was not unexpected in some quarters.
Wiegman started there last May 15, having moved with his wife, Bonnie,
from Oregon. They arrived via the Alaska Highway and settled into a
home along the Spur. The couple chose Talkeetna because he backed the
clinic’s mission to provide quality health care, and they are both active
outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the area year-round.
Interviewed in early March, Wiegman told the Pioneer Press that there
were changes in the works including a new “practice management system”
that would improve the efficiency of clinic billing and management.
Meetings usually consist of a closed session, a brief open session and then
another closed-session stint, with board members visiting trays of healthy
snacks like carrots and cut celery between sessions to get them through
the dinnertime meetings.
A freelance reporter visiting a meeting in February was treated with
extreme curiosity, and although welcomed by the director was requested
to introduce himself and explain his presence to those in the room. The
business meeting was conducted quickly, detailed matters of clinic
governance having been discussed previously in closed session. Another
closed session followed the February open meeting.
Following the Tuesday meeting, capped by an audience member giving
each director a hug, Board Member Dave Sutton had positive thoughts. He
joined the board in 1994 and called himself “a relic.”
“I think it went really well. I’m pleased the community came out and
voiced their opinions,” Sutton said.
He admitted that taking that kind of heat was a bit brutal, but the
Assembly of God church minister and 21-year Talkeetna resident who also
drives a Su Valley High school bus said, “That’s how you get things done.”
Director Bruce Wiegman, who was on vacation but sent a resignation
letter to the directors the day before.
All but one of the speakers was critical of the board’s handling of the clinic’
s employees and some were fearful for the clinic’s future if Chief Financial
Officer Karen Holt, 14-year veteran Physician’s Assistant Jessica Stevens
and Counselor Lauren Champagne all leave the clinic.
A highly emotional Stevens pleaded with the board to open up a direct
dialogue with clinic employees and accused some directors of having
private agendas.
She said she resigned in part due to personal attacks and a feeling that she
was being blamed for deficiencies in the clinic.
Clinic employee Shelis Jorgenson tearfully urged the board not to let
Stevens get away. "I'm grieving that loss and she's not even gone yet," she
said. "She's an amazing woman."
"I'm sorry I'm being emotional," Jorgenson added,"but this is my family."
Founding board member Pam Robinson, who was there when bank
accounts were more than low and the clinic was just beginning, told the
current board, “The best thing we ever did was hire Jessica.”
A history of the clinic written in 2002 by Stevens states she was hired in
1993, and her first job was to help a patient suffering from a chainsaw
wound using expired anesthetic and a variety of on-hand cleaning
solutions while wearing a black garbage bag and plastic sacks on her feet.
In 2002, Stevens won the Phil Nice Memorial Award at the Alaska Rural
Health Conference, where she was credited with rescuing and building up
the Sunshine Clinic “to the model it is today” and for years of commitment
to improving health conditions in rural Alaska.
Stevens urged the board to abandon policies that set up barriers between
employees and the board. “I don’t believe there’s a rule that says we can’t
talk to each other tonight,” she said. Much of the frustration and anger
expressed “is because of the silence,” she said.
“Give us some hope, Doralynn.”
Board chair Doralynn Issel told the crowd that the communication
process has begun through a facilitator hired by the board, and it will
continue. “We have started; we just have to finish it.”
The board unanimously passed a resolution stating it would do whatever
was necessary to work together and solve the clinic’s problems.
Some clinic employees said they want access to the full board, not just
board committees.
Resident Ed Craver said the directors should “confront the dysfunction of
this board,” accusing them of turning a multi-million dollar clinic into “a
five-and-dime operation.”
Craver called it “inexcusable that you people choose to remove yourself
from this community.”
Referring to the board’s acceptance of the executive director’s
resignation, Talkeetna resident Larry Dearman said, “They just shot the
messenger.” He said he met the director after Dearman's wife fell inside
the clinic, and no, they did not sue. “The guy was fair, hard at work, and he
is not a ‘people person.’”
At one point board chair Issel told Dearman, who broke the rules by
turning his back to the board, that he was to address his comments to the
board instead of the audience. Dearman again turned his back to the
board, speaking directly to the audience while suggesting that the chair’s
instruction might be one sign of the “micromanagement” employees
complain about from board members.
Wiegman’s resignation was not unexpected in some quarters.
Wiegman started there last May 15, having moved with his wife, Bonnie,
from Oregon. They arrived via the Alaska Highway and settled into a
home along the Spur. The couple chose Talkeetna because he backed the
clinic’s mission to provide quality health care, and they are both active
outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the area year-round.
Interviewed in early March, Wiegman told the Pioneer Press that there
were changes in the works including a new “practice management system”
that would improve the efficiency of clinic billing and management.
Meetings usually consist of a closed session, a brief open session and then
another closed-session stint, with board members visiting trays of healthy
snacks like carrots and cut celery between sessions to get them through
the dinnertime meetings.
A freelance reporter visiting a meeting in February was treated with
extreme curiosity, and although welcomed by the director was requested
to introduce himself and explain his presence to those in the room. The
business meeting was conducted quickly, detailed matters of clinic
governance having been discussed previously in closed session. Another
closed session followed the February open meeting.
Following the Tuesday meeting, capped by an audience member giving
each director a hug, Board Member Dave Sutton had positive thoughts. He
joined the board in 1994 and called himself “a relic.”
“I think it went really well. I’m pleased the community came out and
voiced their opinions,” Sutton said.
He admitted that taking that kind of heat was a bit brutal, but the
Assembly of God church minister and 21-year Talkeetna resident who also
drives a Su Valley High school bus said, “That’s how you get things done.”
| Sheep Creek Lodge Fine Dining at Mile 88.2 Parks Highway 1 (907) 495-6227 www.sheepcreeklodge.com |
The home base for your Alaskan Adventure in the heart of Talkeetna. 907-733-8570 E-mail us here P.O Box 353, Talkeetna, AK 99676 |
| ADVERTISEMENT |
| Chairs were filled in the Willow Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Tuesday, March 27, as supporters of Jessica Stevens, Karen Holt and Lauren Champagne and concerned community members confronted Sunshine Community Health Center boardmembers. |