Sierra Kings Board Chairwoman, Trish Johnson, and it was confirmed that Ott is on leave. Lingo doesn't know whether the leave is paid or not.
Also leaving Sierra Kings was Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Jennings, the reason at this point unclear, but Lingo said the chairwoman said the two actions were not related.
Though it is the understanding at this point that Ott as CEO of Sierra King brought in her own "team" and one of which is suspected to be the now former CFO.
When the board chairwoman was asked about Ott's credentials by the Reedley Exponent, the story went that they believed they did their "due dilligence" and it is difficult to get through employers to find the real story.
(Don't we know that here.)
With one exception to that reasoning, all they would have had to do was "google" Ott's educational degrees and within two minutes would have known something was wrong.
The Kern Valley Healthcare District failed to do the same thing or maybe all of them just overlooked it.
Sierra Kings District has its own financial problems as two general obligation bonds were taken from the mostly senior community, and that was not enough money. So, Lingo, told me the hospital has talked about getting "donations" from the community to finish the project.
(That could have been us, Kern River Valley, had Measure M passed)
Rumors abound about financial problems at the Sierra Kings District, and even the word "bankruptcy" has been spoken.
According to Rocky Rogers, City Manager, there is no indication that there is a bankruptcy in progress, but the hospital is looking at how to improve its financial situation.
"All I can tell you is that they are having their finances reviewed. They will have to tell you of any further actions they may be taking. We are here to assist and help in whatever way we can as the Hospital means the livelihood for some 300 people."
Oh, we in the KRV know that our hospital is the biggest employer and the only hospital for 50 miles down a dangerous canyon road.
Currently, there seems to be a management, maybe consultant company in Sierra Kings, called HFS. We will follow this up and get more information as to what this group is doing.
Summary: Ott on leave since 5 pm, Thursday, Sept. 10, two days after she was charges with eight counts of elder abuse.
Later today, hoping to get word back from the Department of Justice on questions from last week....
Lawyers line up in court last Tuesday as the state adds a new defendant to its case of elder abuse in the nursing center at the Kern Valley Healthcare District. Pam Ott pled not guilty and was allowed to leave court with no bail or incarceration.(courtroom photo from KGET channel 17, Bakersfield)
Still trying to get word on how the emergency meeting at Sierra Kings District concluded last Thursday after their CEO, and former KVHD CEO/Administrator, Pamela Ott was charged with eight counts of elder abuse.
The state's case says that Ott had knowledge of the alleged practices of using psychotropic drugs on difficult patients, but did nothing to stop it.
According to a tip, Ott has been put on administrative leave (Paid or not?) at Sierra King until the felony case begins on Nov. 3 and 4. We will have to verify that information with the hospital.
Ott who left KVHD in a hurry in May of 2007, as civil suits began to be threatened, and at least one family said they settled, or was paid off early in 2007, as the district tried to keep the information from leaking out.
When Ott left she got a nice raise, as she was paid 142K at Kern Valley Healthcare District and according to the Fresno Bee, is recieving $175K annually at Sierra King.
As of right now, Ott has plead "not guilty" and her attorney has actually said according to the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper, that she is completely innocent.
Now there's some hyperbole for you. Since nobody is ever completely innocent, I think her attorney should do his homework, and he will find there are not too many out there who have looked at her resume, and not snickered. And there is a whole community full of people here who were duped but now know the truth.
And let us not forget the employees who were threatened and fired. And the families of residents who say they were mistreated as they tried to obtain records, information, and money.
There are other players in this game, but we have no word if the state has concluded its investigation and will not pursue others at KVHD who also knew what was going on but chose not to stop it or even attempt to help.
Last Tuesday, the two other defendants, Gwen Hughes former Director of Nursing for the nursing center, and Dr. Hoshang Pormir, Medical director, showed up for court as they were scheduled for a pre preliminary hearing. The hearing was continued as Ott was put on the defendant list.
Former Cheif Nursing Officer, Sharon Brucker, who resigned in December of 2006, and the nurse Pamela Ott claimed in correspondence with Department of Health Services was the main person in charge of the nursing center, is seen here outside the Kern County Superior court speaking with Dr. Pormir.
More to follow...
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