To the DOJ, DHS, Kern Co. DA, Cal Mtg.

This message is to say to these oversight agencies that you have not done a proper and thorough job with your investigation. You may have brought down three people who you might think are the problems, or the cause of the problems in our Skilled Nursing Facility.
But I'm here to say that when I saw that you had a certain witness for your prosecution, I knew you didn't know much about what really happened to our public healthcare district.
I'll ask, where were you when three board members were committing Brown Act violations, quite openly. (See entry, Brown Act) These board members, knew, clearly what was happening in the skilled, but went out of there way to claim it was all in the mind of this ailing reporter. (See sticky three)
What about conflict of interest? I reported it.
What about staff not having proper credentials? I reported it.
What about the state's low cost loan program which seems to be bad, strong arm lending practices? I reported it.
And about Cal Mtg., under the auspices of OSHPD, an office that actually makes money off of these loans; they brought in the virus to the hospital which has lead to the district becoming ill.
Here is some more information you may want to know regarding your witness to the prosection. Here's an excerpt from the indictments. People that know the truth, like me, like staff, former employees and some members of the community know how far off you are with your prosecution:
On May 27, 2008, I interviewed Pamela Ott, former CEO/Administrator for KVHD. Ott
stated that Gwen Hughes was the DON at KVHD when she was the CEO/Administrator. Ott
stated that during the time DPH conducted their investigation in January 2007, she was informed
of accusations from the staff that residents had been held down in order to give them forceful
injections of medications.
Ott stated that the nurses came to her to voice their concerns with Hughes being rude and
cruel to staff, but was never made aware of the psychotropic medications being used or Hughes
threatening staff for refusal to administer these medications. Only after DPH conducted their
investigation was Ott informed that KVHD resident, Louise Zimmerman, had been given a
forceful injection of Respiridol without her consent.
Ott stated that she and her staff conducted a full internal investigation of the forceful use
of psychotropic medication and found the accusation to be legitimate. The investigation found
that Zimmerman was biting, kicking, and hitting others and that the IDT had recommended to
Pormir the use of Respiridol to treat her. Their internal investigation found that staff were
directed by Hughes to go into Zimmerman’s room to participate in administering the forceful
People v. Huges, et al., Felony Complaint
injection to her. The internal investigation found that staff distracted Zimmerman. Then an
injection was given to her without her consent. In this investigation, Pormir stated that he
approved the use of psychotropics on Zimmerman.
Ott stated that there was a written report completed regarding this internal investigation.
This investigation is located at KVHD in the Quality Improvement (QI) file.
Ott stated that she considered the incident in which Zimmerman received a forceful
injection of psychotropics as elder abuse at the highest level.

I can't help reading this and feeling sick to my stomach. Employees tried to tell her but she was the oppressive force brought in by a management Company called Brim, when Cal Mtg. came in when they weren't getting their money. And their CEO, Dave Green, brought on Ott with glowing reports as the new CEO. Didn't they check her credentials?
Apparently, DHS did not notice that she was the adminstrator of the SNF up until Gwen Hughes got there. Obviously, they didn't dig too deep and took her at face value.

Here's another email, with elements missing to protect other people.
-----Original Message-----
From: hartofthekrv@msn.com
To: @netscape.net
Sent: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 11:51 AM
Subject:
Hi Pam:

Also, I have to say I was quite bummed out about what happened with the Knights at the SNF party. Apparently the Knights were invited to the event, Kay made 60 blankets for the residents; so what did Gwen think she was doing running them off or running over them? Has the hospital lost it's manners, decorum in all of this? I didn't think it was funny or amusing. My thoughts are that the residents deserved the attention; it was their Christmas party for god's sake. Instead everyone was off worrying about the Knights. Very disappointing. Hell, even during times of war, Christmas is a sacred time for many; and is usually involved with a truce for the holiday.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for the day. Take care. Laura

----- Original Message -----
From: @aim.com
To: hartofthekrv@msn.com
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 8:24 AM
Subject:

Knights = You're right, we have been wallowing in the mud just about enough. Right again - If they had not been in the nursing center peering into resident rooms and disturbing employees during work time, things would have been very different for the Christmas party. In fact, I have apologized to them and told them that I wished that they would have attended the party. By the way, against everyone's better judgment, I have allowed Knight's mother to be admitted to the SNF (They have decided that she is not able to live at home any longer). They promise to "behave". Hopefully, the Knights will now see the importance of having local health care services when needed.
Pamela Ott
Bakersfield, CA 93312

Now, I don't need to spell this out, I hope, because it's quite obvious, even in December 2006, Ott did not want the Knights (board members) in the skilled nursing facility because Knight had already been warning everyone that there were problems. But they had wanted to trust the leader, as we all did, that it wasn't so. They entrusted their mother, because like the rest of us in the valley, we believed the lies perpetrated on us by your "witness."

I missed seeing the Knights in the indictments; did they even get interviewed?

Knight's mother died in the SNF, and quickly too. Another board member actually told a member of the public about Knight's mother in the SNF, disregarding his privacy. There was a complaint.

So, what do we need to do to get this right and correct? I have not been interviewed and I have much evidence to support everything I'm saying. And I have a list of other "true" witnesses that should be interviewed.

Please, let's get this right. There are reputations and lives at stake. I have written a loose proposal to Cal Mtg. for relief from the debt.

Hopefully we will get some word back about working out a deal to help the biggest employer and only healthcare provider in the community, our KVHD.

Don't forget, the montly board meeting is this coming Wed. March 4, at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria at the hospital.

Response and my response, Cal Mortgage

Dear Don:

I wanted to let you know that something has to be done to this debt the hospital owes. It was a bad loan and now it may have lead to understaffing, hiring of unqualified or suspicious people, who worked in the Skilled nursing facility and apparently killed and tortured people.

My work now is going to all the state representatives and telling them what has happened and have them investigate how this hospital managed this loan in the first place.

Let's start talking bailout. I'm sick I need my hospital. But I don't want to be injured or die there, because they can't afford the proper equipment or are able to retain qualified staff.

I realize that it's not your business to forgive and forget, as Cal mtg. has taken down districts that couldn't pay back the terrible loan program. I've done my investigating.

But it's time to find a way to get the hospital out of the hole. How can we do this?

Thank you, Laura Hart


----- Original Message -----
From: Don Morey
To: Laura Hart
Subject: Re: what the debt has done to the KVHD hospital...

Laura:

I received your message Thursday afternoon. We were on unpaid furlough Friday, February 20, so this is my first chance to respond. By way of personal comment, let me say that I like the new look you have given to your blog.

It looks like the investigation begun two years ago by the Department of Public Health which then resulted in the hospital being placed on “Immediate Jeopardy” status, has now led to criminal prosecutions. We understand that DPH has now determined that KVHD is in operational compliance with state mandated levels of care and staffing; although periodic reviews by consultants are continuing. While this period has been one of financial stress, KVHD has returned to a position of positive operating revenues. That it has been able to weather this storm without missing payments on its long term debt, is an indication that KVHD can meet the financial obligations to bondholders which are guaranteed by the Cal-Mortgage Loan Insurance Program and backed by the taxpayers of the State of California.

Don M

Dear Mr. Morey:

I’m so very glad that we can accommodate your payments. However, it is more like saying you have a car, that runs, but only in one gear, and you don’t have the money to fix it. So, it's not really doing it's job. But you have to make payments anyway.

What about all the problems that need to be addressed. The ER is a disaster, with flooding and understaffing.

They have to retrofit the acute care wing as well, because of state seismic regulations.

And we have to pay some substantial raises to our administrative staff apparently. Though you get unpaid furloughs, they get more money.

The skilled nursing disaster still needs help and we both know it. Ex-employees are fleeing the SNF or they are on stress leave. In the last 3 years, apparently, the hospital is making everyone crazy.

I could go on, but you get my point.

As far as weathering the storm, that would not necessarily be accurate. And the storm clouds have gathered again. And will always until this hospital has enough money to afford to do what makes a hospital perform up to standards and really, hopefully, beyond.

That hospital is not even worth 15 million dollars. We could put a “for free” sign on the building and nobody would take it. So, how do you even justify the first loan, then a second loan, and then kicking out managers and bringing on unqualified managers. Remember Brim?

I say it was bad lending and bad oversight and a bad debt that you should allow this hospital to bankrupt on.

When I see the covenant, I’ll know how much of a strangle hold you actually have.

Responsibility is not what government agencies like to take. My favorite quote and now experience, is “Bureaucracy is the modern form of despotism.” Unknown.

Please, speak to your superiors, and begin an investigation into this loan. The original bond, the second bond, and the refinance.

I wouldn’t loan that hospital my library card. I saw the audit, we will get to that very soon.

Take care and don’t take it personally, Laura Hart

Lawsuits and Bob Jamison and party

This can be found on the Kern County Superior court website under civil actions. It seems one case has settled and the other is moving in that direction.

Search Parameters:
• Case Category: ALL
• Last Name: Ott
• First Name: Pamela
• Filing Date: 5/3/2007 - 2/23/2009
Click Case Number to view the case details.

Click Column Header to Change Sort Order of this page

Case Information (2 total records, displaying 1-2 records.)
Case Number
Party Name
Party Type
Case Title
Case Type
Filing Date

S-1500-CV-263003
OTT, PAMELA DEFENDANT PETERS VS KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT PERSONAL INJURY OTHER 2/13/2008
S-1500-CV-264171
OTT, PAMELA DEFENDANT PETERS VS KERN VALEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT PERSONAL INJURY OTHER 6/5/2008

Case Information - Case Details

Case Information
Case Number: S-1500-CV-263003
Case Title: PETERS VS KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT
Case Type: PERSONAL INJURY OTHER
Filing Date: 2/13/2008
Filing Location: METRO DIVISION, 1415 TRUXTUN
Case Status: PENDING 2/13/2008 3:41:19 PM
Case History: Minute Orders - All

Register of Actions / Case Docket
Scheduled Hearings
Hearing Date/Time Hearing Location Court Room Hearing Type
6/8/2009
9:00 AM METRO DIVISION, 1415 TRUXTUN 6 CAL: JURY TRIAL
5/29/2009
1:30 PM METRO DIVISION, 1415 TRUXTUN 6 CAL: FINAL CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
5/8/2009
9:00 AM METRO DIVISION, 1415 TRUXTUN 3 CAL: MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONF

Party Information
Party # Party Type Party Name Party Class. Attorney(s) Party Status
1 PLAINTIFF PETERS, PHYLLIS PERSON RODRIGUEZ
PENDING
2 PLAINTIFF PHYLLIS PETERS AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST OF FANNIE MAY BRINKL BUSINESS RODRIGUEZ
PENDING
1 DEFENDANT KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT OSBORN
PENDING
2 DEFENDANT KERN VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT SKILLED NURSING FACILITY BUSINESS PENDING
3 DEFENDANT KERN VALLEY HOSPITAL BUSINESS PENDING
4 DEFENDANT OTT, PAMELA PERSON OSBORN
PENDING
5 DEFENDANT PORMIR, HOSHANG PERSON THELEN
PENDING


Bob Jamison's blog on the radio website in the summer of 2007.
As the Valley waits with baited breath, or yawns bored to tears, waiting to see what dastardly deed the Sun will uncover next within the Kern Valley Healthcare District, this weeks Talk Show may shed some light on whatever is happening.

While the freelance reporter, which the Sun is suddenly distancing themselves from, continues to dig through years and years of Healthcare District public records, perhaps searching for the elusive "smoking gun", the stories keep being pumped out by the Sun, devoid of objectivity and, in my opinion, misleading.

I guess the days of journalistic integrity and readers assuming "it must be true, I read it in the newspaper" are long gone.

So. where do we turn to for the truth? Disgruntled employees?, Politically motivated board members?, Someone who posts messages on a community internet forum urging hospital employees to abandon their patients, go out on "stress leave" and illegally file false workman's comp claims?

How about the only person with nothing left to loose, no reason left to worry about political correctness or what the foul mouthed freelance reporter writes about her?

Outgoing Kern Valley Healthcare District CEO, Pamela Ott, will be on the Talk Show this Friday morning at 9am for the full hour.

And just two weeks ago, the hospital threw itself a 40th birthday bash. This is the last paragraph from a front page article in the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper:

Following the meal, Carter returned to the podium once more to ask the guests to lift their glasses of sparkling cider in a toast to the success the hospital has enjoyed thus far, and to its continued success in the future. He took the opportunity to thank the many volunteers who had made the celebration possible, and said that more than 50 organizations and collaborating partners were in attendance that evening. After the celebration ended, people said their goodbyes and continued talking about how fortunate the Kern Valley is to have the hospital. Newly elected KVHD Board Member Dr. Robert Gross said that the gratitude goes both ways. “I think the hospital is very very lucky to be in the community that it is because the people here give more to the hospital than any community ever has,” he said.

Prayers to families whose loved ones died in the SNF at KVHD

Well, it's a shocking day in the Kern River Valley, as residents finally learn that early reports regarding the problems with the Skilled Nursing Facility, were unfortunately true.

"Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the arrests
of anurse, physician, and a pharmacist of a nursing home for
"forciblyadministering" psychotropic medications for their own convenience,
rather thanfor their patients' therapeutic interests, actions that are alleged
to haveresulted in the deaths of three residents. "These people maliciously
violatedthe trust of their patients, by holding them down and forcibly
administeringpsychotropic medications if they dared to question their care,"
Attorney GeneralBrown said. "This is appalling behavior, which amounts to
assault with a deadlyweapon." Earlier today, California Department of Justice
special agents arrestedthree individuals: . Gwen Hughes, the former Director of
Nursing at the skillednursing facility of the Kern Valley Healthcare District in
Lake Isabella, KernCounty on charges of elder abuse and assault with a deadly
weapon. . DebbiHayes, the former pharmacist at the Valley Healthcare District,
on charges ofelder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. . Dr. Hoshang Pormir,
a staffphysician at Kern Valley Healthcare District, who was serving as the
medicaldirector of the skilled nursing facility, on charges of elder
abuse.

I would like to say directly to the families, that I'm sorry for your loss, as well as those whose family members were treated with abuse.
(I'll reserve the names for now)

Our prayers go out to you and the suffering you have endured while watching certain people at the hospital deny any wrongdoing or serious problems, or just completely abandon ship.

Just the thought of our aged and frail patients being physically overwhelmed and drugged, should make us all more vigilant about our hospital.

This is a public healthcare district, and it is now time for the public to come forward and help make things better.We need to speak to our political representatives who were forewarned by me in many emails, that there was a serious problem in the SNF and with the communication by three certain board members who zigged when they should have zagged. (The sticky three, see post below)

I would like to know what happened to the oversight from our public servants? Overseeing a birthday party is not a tough job. Investigating allegations of much wrongdoing would have been time better spent.

Personally, I would be embarrassed had I shown up at this party, when the administration knew it was facing a major crisis soon. (Note, I wasn't there for that reason)

With the mountainous debt brought on by a low cost state loan gone bad, the hospital scrimps to pay off the current 15 million dollar debt. Even now there is uncertainty that this year's payment can be made in a timely manner or in whole.

Just like it was around the nation, a mongrel office, part government, part money makers, named Cal Mortgage, backed a bad loan to this healthcare district. Starting at 13 million in 1989, and then when problems with the construction project occurred, they threw another almost 9 million at us.

Was this a good lending practice? (KVHD board Treasurer, Brad Armstrong was there and needs to answer to some of these questions. He's been on the board for 20 years.)

Now Cal Mortgage has us in a stranglehold, where we cannot even bankrupt. No, this government backed insurer can come in and take over management or take all the assets of the district and leave a crater behind.


Maybe if the district had that money it has to channel to Cal Mortgage, to spend on qualified staff, this whole problem with the SNF would never have occurred and nobody would have died.

And maybe Cal Mortgage should shoulder a lot of the responsibility for what happened.

We already have a dangerous river, we don't want this hospital known as the "Killer Kern" healthcare district.

Board meeting the first Wednesday of March at 5:30 in the cafeteria. Be there, ask questions, and get informed.I will be posting many interesting things in the next few days that may help inspire some questions that the board and CEO need to answer.