Golden Valley: Investigation of physician’s allegations finds no wrongdoing

Golden Valley Health Centers said an independent investigation did not substantiate any allegations of Dr. Liza Pham, who wrote blistering letters last year criticizing administrators and board members.

According to a news release, Sacramento attorney Eve Fichtner conducted more than 55 interviews with about 40 individuals and reported her conclusions in a 1,000-page report.

There were no findings related to Pham’s charges of a hostile work environment, harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, retaliation and termination of employees, Golden Valley said. The investigation did not substantiate the doctor’s claims that medical staff were required to increase the number of patient visits at Golden Valley clinics.

“We are satisfied that this matter has been thoroughly examined and that the process can now come to an end,” Board Chairman John Price said in the news release. “The board takes issues like this very seriously. We value each of our 850 employees and owed it to them to take a long, hard look at all of the claims made by Dr. Pham.”

Golden Valley’s board of directors did not release the report, citing attorney-client privilege.

Pham, a physician at the Sixth Street clinic in Modesto, openly criticized Chief Executive Officer Tony Weber during unrest last fall when a former chief medical officer was fired and other staff members left the organization. The doctor circulated her letters to the press.

Among other claims, Pham alleged that Weber, who took over as CEO in May 2014, had created a hostile environment and that staff members feared retaliation if they aired their concerns with management.

Pham could not be reached by phone Friday but responded in an email. “Without access to the actual report, I cannot validate the accuracy of (the attorney’s statements) or the board of directors’ statements,” she said.

The pediatrician is on leave. No other information on her employment status with Golden Valley was available.

Golden Valley has 26 health centers and eight dental sites in Stanislaus and Merced counties, serving more than 100,000 patients. Former Chief Medical Officer Silvia Diego claimed in a wrongful termination lawsuit in December that she was fired after disagreeing with Weber over directives to increase the number of clinic patients.

Diego and Pham argued the goals to serve more patients were detrimental to patient care unless more health care providers were hired for the clinics.

During the five-month investigation into alleged misconduct by the administration, Fichtner identified a few situations inconsistent with Golden Valley’s code of conduct. The board has taken steps “to assure improvements are made,” the news release said.

According to the news release, Fichtner was permitted to conduct the investigation without interference from Golden Valley’s leadership.

“The board of directors of GVHC allowed me discretion to conduct the investigation as determined to be necessary,” Fichtner wrote. “I was given access to all requested documents, and I was provided with last known contact information for all witnesses. No party interfered with, or attempted to influence, the findings in this report.”

Diego said she has gone into private practice with Lisa Gil, a physician who parted ways with Golden Valley after 12 years. Diego and Gil took over a family practice in Riverbank and are moving to an office at 1317 Oakdale Road, Suite 440, in Modesto.

The practice serves women, families and children and plans a grand opening at the Modesto location July 23, Diego said. The staff also includes Elizabeth Morrison, a former mental health counselor for Golden Valley.

“I am very excited,” said Diego, who was with Golden Valley for 18 years. “It is an opportunity to take care of patients, and the most important thing is the medical doctors make the decisions on patient care. Medicine should be practiced by medical doctors. The doctors should be in charge.”

Former staff members said about 30 health care providers including doctors, counselors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants have left Golden Valley in the past year.

Mary-Michal Rawling, Golden Valley’s director of governmental affairs, acknowledged that people have left but said she did not have a total number.

Some departed for family reasons, Rawling said, adding that staff turnover is normal for any business.

“We have also hired several providers and, like all health care organizations, we are always recruiting,” she said.

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Golden Valley: Investigation of physician’s allegations finds no wrongdoing."