Back to the future! KRVR forum from April 2007 resurfaces

I had this odd feeling, de ja' vu, earlier and realized I've been saying much of the same things for more than 2 years. And now we have reached a juncture in time where the community knows a little more of what I was talking about back then. But I'm seeing much of the same behavior now, as the hospital is on the brink of true change or utter disaster.

In April of 2007, the fight began.

And we took it to the backyard of the KRVR hospital forum. It was the heaviest hit site on the website, and that wasn't just the folks visiting and reading.

A battle was ensuing and the killer bees took up their computers at the hospital and we had words...lots of words. (Read the Urban legend/revelation/responsibility post)

Many people showed support, while the heated confrontation took place. Shortly after the fight began, former CEO, Pam Ott resigned. Board member Bob Jamison blamed me and took Ott to his radio tower where she was allowed an hour of dementia. (see Ott interview QAB)

I'm not really a pack rat at all, as soon as I throw something away, I suddenly need it. But we tried to track the archives from the forum and were not successful. Then I happened to look in my documents and there it was.

So, this is where it started:

April 2007: Then board member Barbara Casas

I feel very sorry for you at this stage, I know that public opinion is very important to you, and I truly want what is best for you, please give up this vendetta and try to report only what is true.

You say you had "carte blanche" when dominating the question period; how was anyone to know you were going to use the whole time allowed, questioning just the Knights, the time allowed you at the last Board Meeting your whole question period was directed at all board members (primarily "the Big three" and the CEO----now....I think we were all a little stunned at the request to repeat what was said at the previous Special Meeting. (She called them the "big three" and I have since called them the "sticky three.")

Acting Brown
This shows three work together; 2 work together; If the three always vote the same; you Jamison and Armstrong; is there a vote you can cite where this hasn't happened for us please? Have we ever seen meaningful discussion go on between all the board members; or have we seen a cliquish stalemate something out of lack of creativity 101.

Boards rarely agree; but they are willing to research and discuss and not rely on a CEO for all the information.(That goes for reporters too. I relied on the CEO and you three board members BC, BJ, and BA, for my part of the information; and what did I come up with but nothing more than a slanted picture which I'm embarrassed and apologetic about.)

Now you mentioned in an earlier post that they (The Knights) don't play the game; play along. With who? You, your two board mates, and the CEO?If a board has consensus sometimes that's another word for complicity; people have boards to get different opinions; offer different talents and styles. This board has three people that consistently blame two others for their downfall. (To err is human; to blame others is management potential)

You are the people in charge of setting policy; I am sure you would have to spend time really reading this material which could be confusing and ponderous. (Such as the SNF reports you get year after year) Then you are supposed to enforce these policies through your CEO.

I don't mean to be so frank here, but your CEO is not the leader that will pull this district from dire straights. She has four years now of trying; how long before you decide it's not working out? But the three of you board members will be defending her regardless of the ill effects it could have on the longevity of this hospital.

Will you let this hospital perish so that you can carry on as you did; as a club; with no real scrutiny; no openess and visibility required by a public healthcare district?And if you claim visibility; I will show all the tapes of the board meetings I've collected in the last 16 months. (It's funny how you forget what you said last year)

Say it out loud; write it down: If Laura Hart would just go away we would be fine. We could get back to the business of making things look like something is happening. And if it doesn't look good; continue our traditional scapegoating process. That's really what all these negative posts are all about. Is this hospital owned by the four or more of you?

Now, I say I can think of several people who would make great board members in this community. We are not short on talent in this valley; and Mrs. Casas that means you too. But you are locked in with the "in group;" there is horrid divisiveness and slander on your team; keep things hidden; breaking the rules of the board; blaming others. Regardless, this means little progress on the real stuff.

And I'm positive a good CEO could be found; one with experience in talking to a small community; not trying to scare it death with the tales of the small town reporter trying to "take down" the hospital (and some other ripe stuff I might add).

Somebody needs to both bolster the slumping morale amongst the employees; and manage to stay on top of the demands of the state and the demands of a construction project. We need a state of the art CEO. (I hope we have one now)

Basically, we need leaders; with heart; and ones who will commit to see this thru for the community. "From bond to Building" But have the talent and mostly integrity to do so. I say we need to start on this now. And we the community need to start with people we can trust with our money; We are now scrutinizing our investment. (Unlike Cal mortgage did 20 years ago ; the insurer of our multi million dollar debt)

If KVHD CEO and board of directors can't staff, medicate, manage, plan for growth, recruit and retain good staff, correctly bill people; then maybe it's time to let go and allow someone else to help.

Does that sound unreasonable? Thanks for your thoughts. Laura Hart

From the inside

You are right Laura, staffing in the SNF has been a problem for quite some time now. How many days have they worked short? When staffing is at the state required minimum and one or even two CNA's call off that leaves a lot of work for those working that shift. But hey, by staffing like that it looks good on the books, it helps the SNF to be within or below "budget" & then the good report that the SNF made a profit. The CNA's work very hard & care very much for their residents, so it makes it very hard on them when all they can do is the bare minimum both physically & mentally. And when their cries for help fall on deaf ears, no wonder the morale is low. If any one of us walked in their shoes, I wonder how long we could keep our morale high? They definitely need leadership that will support them & in the absence of a DON, that responsiblity falls back to Admin. But where are they?

The restraint story

Dear Laura, I just wanted to respond about the "supposedly" new laws concerning restraints that KVHD Admin keeps alluding to. In the DHS exit interview last year, the restraint law was brought up. At that time (and I believe it was the previous CNO) the question was asked when the law was enacted. The DHS surveyor could not remember the exact year but did state it had been on the books for quite some time. The CEO was also in attendance at that meeting. So, why do they keep referring to the "new restraint law"? My guess? Just another issue that they can blame on something or someone else
The current CEO is looking for any excuse to blame the situation on. This is her M.O. and has been for years and years. I have worked with this CEO in the past and know she will always blame something or someone else. She is not capable of admitting to a mistake or not knowing an answer.

And Annie and her emoticoms
I thought you had all the facts, and that you were so trusted with all the information regarding all these "crooked people" who only want to "bury the Healthcare District."

The fact is, Laura Hart, you have done more damage in the short time you have decided to "turn 360 degrees" from the truth, then the Knights have historically, that is more damage verbally, not financially, no one could ever surpass that monetary loss to the healthcare district.....no way.

From my view you have been "playing both sides of the court" and a good reporter should have more discernment, especially after listening to a person whose goal has been since 1998, to prove to this valley that he can run the Healthcare District better then he did then; God help up all if that ever happens, you can kiss that "Blarney Stone" for me too, because if you believe that will ever happen, think again!

Snakes and venom: my response
Hey, I love emoticons....does that make you mad?
I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh at this post Annie. This is humorous stuff; but your timing is off; we have a critical situation at our hospital; code blue! And the time for screwing around is over.

I will however address what you have said about the venom I'm using; well as we know, when dealing with snakes, venom often times is the anti-venom. This community has been bit repeatedly by snakes living in that hospital; and nobody has come to our aid. Well, there were a couple who tried to bring in the grand jury; but the corruption at Tehachapi was taking up too much of their time apparently to deal with our little hospital.

These were our early heroes who took the shots I now expect I will be taking for a long time to come.

So, if someone doesn't agree with current management or the triad board; then they are...what...it has to be...supporters of the Knights.

The knights have no power; they get voted down every time. What is with this specious argument? If anyone wants to verify that they call me and get a copy of the tapes of the board meetings; or call the hospital and get the board minutes.

All they do is irritate the decision makers with their requests for material and their questions. They have no real power for crying out loud.Gee whiz, I was hoping at least for something different from you Annie the emoticom lover. Hey, it's cool, I don't want your name; you have no real important information for me. You are just a parrot; I've heard this squawk before. Take care. Laura Hart

We brawled and crazy, outlandish (even by my standards) posts were put up by Jamison, who talked about aliens on the very day Ott turned in her resignation. But she stayed on for 30 days and did some damage in retaliation. It was ugly.

It takes time to deal with embedded wrongdoing. Even more than 2 years.

We have had patience, now we need action....