Wrangell Sentinel -

Dr. Greg Salard has been granted an extension of time to file a Reply Brief in appeal of a decision to withhold privileging at Wrangell Medical Center by the former hospital board.

First District Court Judge Kevin Miller filed an order on Aug. 28 giving Salard until Sept. 20 to file documents in court challenging the decision to prevent him from practicing at the hospital. He is currently restricted to seeing patients at Alaska Island Community Services’ Tideline Clinic.

The order gives Salard some breathing room in his pursuit of the appeal, which is taking the form of both a courtroom-based approach and a plan to seek reinstatement through the new board at their next regular meeting on Sept. 19.

A request by Salard to stay the decision was rejected, however, by Miller.

“The court’s previous order denying Dr. Salard’s Motion for a Stay remains in effect,” Miller’s order states. “Dr. Salard shall dismiss this appeal with prejudice in the event the WMC Board grants reconsideration of his privileges.”

In a post on a Facebook page supporting his effort to regain privileges, Salard stated that he hopes the board will act to reinstate him.

“I hope the board will amend the agenda to add discussion of my privileges, as well. According to the WMC Board Bylaws, agenda items can be set by the board president or by two (2) board members. Alternatively, any board member can present a motion to add it to the agenda, which would then require a vote. I realize the new board has a lot of work to do to clean up the mess left by the old board, but they must realize that includes what the old board did to me. We need to get this done on Sept. 19th,” Salard stated.

The WMC board has not released an agenda related to their scheduled meeting on Sept. 19, which is the first opportunity the board would have to address the issue. If Salard is not reinstated by Sept. 20, his appeal would continue in its current form.