Scared and impaired: what happened to KVHD?

I've wondered over the past three years how the leadership of a hospital could provoke a dangerous circumstance as that which happened here at the Kern Valley Healthcare District in Mt. Mesa, California.

These circumstances lead to four people being charged with counts of elder abuse and two counts of assault. One of the defendants plead to a lesser charge of conspiracy which makes her a witness now to some things that a judge and jury should hear.

The most recent acquisition by the state Bureau of Medi-cal Fraud and Elder abuse, was the former CEO/administrator of the KVHD hospital and skilled nursing facility, Pamela Ott, who was charged in September with eight counts of elder abuse.

She is currently on unpaid leave at her new job with Sierra Kings District in Reedley, CA.

Why would they pick up Miss Ott?

Ott was the top dog, the leader of the pack, and she lead this pack into dangerous territory, where employees did things they knew were wrong, and residents of the nursing facility suffered.

Why would they do this?

It's crossed my mind over and over that the only way to get people to do things they know are wrong and harmful, is to frighten them somehow.

When we are scared, our thinking becomes impaired.

Our employees saw things go on at KVHD that they KNEW were wrong. Some were even participants in the ghastly circumstances which took place. A few had serious problems and had emotional breakdowns because of the conflict. Staff quit, even moved out of this valley to get away, fleeing in fear.

Again how did the leadership do this?

They threatened them with their jobs, their licenses, their careers, their ability to support their families. And then they offered those who would keep quiet; praise, attention, and new higher paying positions.

The wreckage, the human indignities, were the impetus for the state of California to come in and investigate.

It was too late you know?

Department of Health Services had called on the skilled nursing facility during the time under investigation, Aug. 1/06 to Jan. 31/07, because, yes, there were a few that weren't afraid and impaired.

But the state oversight tends to lean towards management and give them every opportunity to skateboard around the park.

Imagine yourself in the shoes of these employees, what would you have done?

If we were talking about me, I would have done just what I'm doing now: finding justice no matter how long it takes. But other people have children to feed and care for, parents to assist, jobs to hold down, businesses to keep afloat in an environment polluted in small town politics, so it's not that easy to get involved.

Think of the difference it would have made if people came when the first alarms rang out. It's not like I wasn't getting my own calls for help, but didn't know exactly what to do.

I didn't get backing from the local paper I wrote for at the time, and the leaders of the hospital used the radio station to attack all who would disagree.

It all tied in that the powers that be were allowed to do some awful things and literally ruin lives, careers, but where they hit rock bottom, was how they treated the residents and their concerned families. (Paid them off too, keeps it quiet)

But we are talking about local people, who had taken care of their patients for years, then found themselves under the control of a new director of nursing who was given full charge of the nursing facility.

The propaganda was that the new director of nursing was "wonderful" and that she had "great" credentials to the point of being an "expert."

But it turns out credentials at KVHD are like "woops I fogot to look at that."

When the going gets tough...

Ott who continuously denied any "serious" problems with the skilled nursing cnter, and now has plead, in front of God and all of us who know, in the Kern County superior court, that she is "not guilty."

She got away with getting no bail, and having to spend no time in jail, too.

What was this about? I don't know and they won't tell me at the Department of Justice either. It's been more than a month and all I can get is, "oh yeah," I'll get back with you on that.

After being the fodder for a major news release from the Attorney General's office, as the worst elder abuse case in the history of elder abuse, or something like that, the Kern Valley and it's rural healthcare district have taken a beating.

Why is it so tough to take the people down from the top?

I would say it started with the slowness of the project. You gave them too much time to cover up the evidence. To rid themselves of employees, paperwork, medicine containers, and staffing reports.

Then we wonder that after all the work by the state, that there are still problems in the KVHD nursing center.

I will repeat that by allowing a grand jury investigation to slip by with handshakes and old friends; calls to the public health department full of sarcasm, and even a "we already know thank you."; HIPAA privacy violations left without a trace of sweat put into the complaints; Brown act crimes went on with unmistakable brazenness; and finally the mixture so poisonous it brought about criminal charges.

Now they did it with confidence and bluster.

The wool not only went over your eyes, but scratched your corneas.

Be right back...