shooting ourselves in the foot, pharmacy, whatever (you've been had, KVHD board and CEO)

(Update: Latest pharmacist gone, obtaining prescriptions still slow, but the pharmacy remains in service)
Follow up to the pharmacy (an editorial, another one):

With the photos of protesters outside of the Sierra Kings District Hospital board meeting, home of the whopper, Pamela Ott, donning the front page of "The Reedley Exponent" on-line newspaper, I couldn't help but wonder what is it going to take to change things here?

I can't help but be envious of the Reedley citizens and their demonstration of unity against government waste and mediocrity last week, signs and all.

They asked directly that the President of the Sierra Kings district board, Trish Johnson, step down and allow someone else to give it a try as their hospital has filed bankruptcy and their former CEO, or current, Pam Ott, has her hearing in court next week on charges of elder abuse which occurred under her leadership here in the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

So many things have happened here in our district, but it seems we have a way of avoiding responsibility and continuing to expect the denizens of the valley to swallow the constant flow of excuses.

If this isn't the last straw, what is?

After actually killing the business at the Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy by announcing that the pharmacy is losing money and cannot support the community by supplying their prescriptions in a timely manner as well as not being able to "stock" or carry "brand name" or unusual medicines, the hospital has created a self fulfilling prophecy.

Though the new numbers examined by CFO, Chief Financial Officer, Chet Beedle, and CEO, Tim McGlew, showed their was life still left in the pharmacy service, the original advice to shut it down, may be the down fall of the business.

For months, the pharmacy has struggled to keep the medicine shelves stocked and the customers served on time, but the money wasn't being paid to the wholesaler of the drugs, and suddenly, the pharmacy hits the chopping block.

Why deal with it? Because there is a community out here to serve, who cannot make the trip around the lake or down the mountain, and we have according to four year old statistics, the same size population on the south side as we do in the Kernville area, where "The Drug Store" continues to peddle its pills without a peep.

Now, we have a situation: yes, there are numbers which support keeping the pharmacy alive, but I guarantee Mr. Beedle will be talking about the most recent numbers attached to articles in the local newspaper about the pharmacy being the number one money draw on the hospital.

(Again, it's a media situation. The local newspaper didn't understand the situation and headlined the pharmacy was closing. What did I say about power? I'll be talking about them soon, as I've had a chance to get a gander at the most recent ramblings of the local media)

But that was caused when people were told that the pharmacy cannot provide their medicine. Why would we go there if the news is that they don't have my prescription?

And there is a board member apparently, no names, only addresses, 104.5, who seems to believe that by not purchasing at the pharmacy himself, he is making a statement as to the viability of the retail outlet.

Well, board members are not looking too good these days, as they sat through the most bias (yes, I use the word too) board report I have witnessed since Pam Ott was telling us the employees, the college, the director of nursing, the leach lines, were causing all the problems in the skilled nursing facility.

Chet Beedle sat in front of all of you and I'm sorry to say the CEO as well, and recommended closing the pharmacy, taking action at that meeting, because of his analysis. (The off balance report)

As I have pointed out he used an old report, a ruler and some scotch tape, and suddenly the pharmacy was too much for us to handle, it is taking down the hospital.

You know there are rumors, as always here, hell we'd have no information at all if it weren't for rumors, that the pharmacy if it stayed open, would bring down the hospital.

How's that one? Another rumor is that I am going up against the pharmacy, that I want it shut down.

Good grief, KVHD, when does your rumor milling get the story right?

I am for financial viability of the district, but I also recognize that this is a rural healthcare district. It's paid for by the public to serve the public. And as the public we better take another look at what is going on.

Get me my prescription, NOW!

Some of us can't wait for the COD to arrive, but I've decided to bring my business back to Mt. Mesa pharmacy so that I can keep an eye on how the medications and customer service are doing.

We all need to come back with our business and demand that the hospital pay out the money to at least keep standard medications on the shelves.

We've already chipped away at the staff there like we enjoy doing as a business practice. Get rid of those costly, pesky employees, then we can make some money.

These employees are supposed to be "first in line" with the transition into the hospital pharmacy in the event of closure. Well, they are the front line of an untended business operation who have to hear complaints day in and day out, not because of the pharmacy, but because of the hospital financial priorities.

It is a priority to get the CFO a nice retirement and continue to pay him good money, while he throws away good money.

We heard about "volume" the secret of the Egyptians and that is no longer going to cut it: cut the salary, even cut the position.

Make the right cut, not the pharmacy: the CFO

You want to have a pharmacy and a hospital in our valley? I do. But not the way it is now.

We have replaced other parts but the car still doesn't run right. Hey we haven't tried to replace the the CFO. Let's start thinking in car repair terms: If it won't start, begin with the battery and move on. Don't take out the engine when it's a battery cable that needs to be replaced.

My advice: Go back to the pharmacy and let's start all over

If you live on the south side of the lake, go back to the pharmacy and start all over again. Maybe not this week or month, but eventually with our business we can bring it back.

Start by bringing your prescriptions that are not urgent, but can wait, for them to do what is necessary to fill it.

And start calling...(I know it's ridiculous to call anywhere now with the additional numbers to dial, 1-760-I hate the government)

But don't call those poor people at the pharmacy, they're just victims of this whole fiasco. They have had their hours and benefits cut while listening to customers complain on a daily basis. Leave them alone.

Call the hospital CFO, Chet Beedle, instead. 760-379-2681 is the main number and then dial O and ask for Chet Beedle.

If you have a problem at the pharmacy call the person who pays the bills, CFO, Chet Beedle. (I'm sure volume may be the answer here too.)

So, go back to the pharmacy if you want it to be there...