Today at Finance Commit me: Think of yourself not as a charity case, but a "write off"

Well, as usual, I was running late, and I had no where to put my new tiny dog, Johnson. I had to feed the cat, the dogs, wake the Macaw, get the temperature right in the house, close her door, and then throw on a happy face, and skidoodle out the door.

So, Johnson, our new arrival, playmate for my Boxer, Walter, had to go to the meeting. I hid him in my coat, thinking nobody would notice and maybe attribute the movement in my jacket to a gastrointestinally troublesome bowl of chili.

But not.

That new CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, busted me with my illegal cargo.

I explained I didn't have a babysitter this morning, and it would be too dangerous to leave him understaffed, I mean, alone at home, and then Miss Burciaga cut me a break and let the little Johnson stay for the meeting.

Johnson slept through the meeting, which is usually what I want to do, but there was something about this month's meeting that was different.

We were talking about the "real" problems, such as we don't have money, staff or money to put away for our true friends at Cal Mtg.

Stopping the leaks

One of the areas of concern is the fact that the hospital treats people who have no insurance or money, which is by law what they have to do.

With so many people out of work and struggling, there is an increase in need for services without insurance.

Now, that is fine. If you are sick, don't hurt yourself by not seeking medical care and don't think of yourself as a "charity case."

One of the most damaging psychological problems is when people lose their jobs and are unable to support their families. Men tend to be more difficult to get to go be treated by a doctor anyway: and they sure don't like it if they can't pay for it.

Here's the deal, if you don't have insurance, your life has become like so many across the country, you don't have money for anything extra, but you may qualify for some of what they call the "charity programs."

I don't like the word either, and I think since the hospital is complaining, that they would euphemize the word, and call it something like, "payment protection programs."

All this says is that you are signing forms so that the hospital may bill one of the many indigent (here's another great word that should make you feel good about yourself) programs available through the state.

If you can't do sliding scale which is available, then you may be eligible for one of many programs.

When you get treatment and don't fill out this paperwork you are costing the hospital money; you're now featured in the bad debt section of the financials.

But before you come down to the hospital, grab your proof of income and residence, and fill out the forms.

This way the hospital will be paid through the state, you will get your medical treatment, and it will not be a bad debt that goes on "your credit report" too.

Running back, Quarterback, and tight end/multi-purpose team

We've been talking about the staffing issues for a loooonnnnngggg time now, and I've heard many different things from different voices at the hospital.

We spoke again about: having multi-purpose staff who are trained in several areas and work in several areas; the great CNA (nurse's aide) educational jump, as many of the nurses have decided to upgrade their education and are in LVN (the next stop on the nursing journey) school; and that the CCO has been coming in when the staffing is tentative.

Two comments here, one that we still have a problem, but the second part that our administrator is willing to come in when there is a shortage and work whatever role necessary.

Kudos to you Cynthia.

Yeah, it doesn't make me necessarily feel better that she has to do this, that a solution hasn't been pinpointed, but it does make me and all of us, should realize that somebody is going above and beyond their call of duty. And we thank her.

(I'm guessing that is why our new CEO, Tim McGlew, wasn't present at Finance. He was actually fixing the sprinklers and removing trays from the kitchen. He's strong, he can carry a lot of trays.)

Where are we going: where have we been

The community needs new services, but so does the hospital so it can make money.

Bandaids are not big money makers.

There was a whole list of services bandied about yesterday, which included orthopedic surgeons, cardiac services, wound care specialists for the nursing center, as well as a lot more dreaming, but it felt short of planning.

Yes, I would wish this for all of us, my list includes oncology and chemotherapy, and cardiac services, as well as endocrinology, Ear nose and throat (they'd make a fortune there with all the allergies we suffer up here from the lake bed blowing in the wind, and winter with all its wood burning stoves), eye/cataract, Gynecological, oh, yeah, and mammogram.

(Yes, we did have a mammogram machine, but apparently, we had no one to run it. Then we advertised it, then we sold it. We're a bunch of boobs)

There is a shortage of ortho's anyway, so that is a pipe dream. But I had an appointment with my endocrinologist yesterday, which took me off my mountain and down into the city. I spent 30 minutes, we talked, read my records, wished me good luck, and off I went.

That was not worth the trip down. We could have done it by phone. It wasn't worth the gas money, nor the chronic risk of the canyon. I like the doctor. In fact, he's spectacular when it comes to doctors, but it's the drive.

All I ever think about is retired and elderly people going down the canyon trying to get services. And certainly, with age comes more doctor visits, so how many times are these people going down the canyon to get care?

The hospital should wonder about that too.

I say use your strength's right now to make money. I'll say it first here on the blog: From everything I've heard we have a great physical therapy department. They do things that others don't.

If you need physical therapy and you don't have insurance, don't forget there is a sliding scale program.

My impression of all of this talking, was there is no plan in effect, we are just dealing with issues randomly without an outline of the reasonableness of the solutions, with no fixed goals figured.

But that has been a problem for a long time, don't let me tell you it just came up yesterday.

I have all the paperwork from the strategy meeting from 2006. There were tremendous goals back then and each KVHD board member had a task to do to accomplish these things. Great!

Never happened. Not one of those things. I looked through it. In fact we've come way backward.

We need planning and development with input from the community. The hospital should spend a few bucks, throw an open house and let the community know what there is to offer. (They could call it, "a penny for your thoughts.")

Again, we have "great" physical therapists.

Which side of the lake you live on

As we were discussing the pharmacy issue, which they want to tell you about. I'm glad, I don't want to tell you about it. So you might want to show up for the October regular board meeting, Wed. Oct. 7, at 5:30 pm in the Cafeteria.

(You've been alerted, there's a board meeting. If you don't attend, whatever happens, you cannot complain about. My new rule.)

Anyway, in this conversation something was said that has bothered me all night.

And that is that the "reality" of our positions of life and stature in this valley depend on which side of the lake we live on.

As if I were going to agree, it was said that "we all know" (common knowledge) that the money and power structure is greater on the Kernville side of town.

Oh gag.

Not that it isn't true to some degree. Yes, they do have money over there, the housing is quite nice, the shade trees, high speed internet, the business center, why it's a veritable Camelot.

Now here on the South Lake side, we don't have high speed internet, our phone service is a joke, we have a grocery store we're proud of, but we are the local lesser people I guess according to the common knowledge.

The context of this conversation came when we were discussing the pharmacy in Kernville, "The Drug store."

It makes money, but this poor side of the lake, can't do it.

Our low real estate values and apparently low human values, make this side of the lake less appealing to business and those providing services.

I'm actually glad to hear this out in the open so I can respond properly.

Listen, the whole valley is what has been called, "the ugly stepsister" of the county. One suburb of Orange County could buy this whole place, fishing permits and all.

But that is where I find the problems in that there are those who came to this valley in hopes of being that big fish in this little pond.

Next up: Scared and impaired

More on this soon, gotta go...