Hospital Official Files Complaint

The business office manager of Shoshone Medical Center claims she was shoved and chased by the Kellogg hospital’s human resource manager.

Pat Wolfe filed a complaint about the Friday incident with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Department, resulting in a battery investigation. The county prosecutor will decide whether to press charges against Gary Ackerman, said Cpl. Mitchell Alexander, who investigated the case.

Ackerman said Wednesday that he “absolutely” did not shove or chase Wolfe. He would not discuss the case further.

“This is hospital business,” he said.

According to Wolfe, she and Ackerman were discussing employee benefits on Friday. She questioned whether he had done everything he could to help employees get affordable health insurance.

She said the conversation became uncomfortable, and “he was trying to keep me from leaving his office … He shoved me and tried to get the door closed again.

“He chased me out to my car,” she said. “It was very upsetting.”

The disagreement comes in the midst of turmoil at SMC, including the hospital board’s decision not to renew the contract of administrator Bob Morasko.

Ackerman supports Morasko. Wolfe spoke up at a recent public meeting, suggesting that supporters were using “scare tactics” by suggesting the hospital would close if Morasko left.

, DataTimes