Some updates on the flu shots/and a hail to Reedley

Get ready for a little prick, as the Kern Valley healthcare District will indeed be getting flu shots for us this year: and we can still drive thru.

The district is expecting a shipment of the mighty seasonal, elixir, before the end of the month, and will be setting up dates and times for us to drive on by to get our shots.

I'll get you those dates as soon as they come available.

(I'm thinking this might be a good opportunity for the hospital to combine the drive thru flu shots and make a little extra cash doing say...tire inflation and window washing...or maybe even some other medical stuff, like, Podiatrist, Dr. Holly Spohn foot checks, or maybe a looksy down the throat and in the ears, or since we're getting new OBGYN's, a "mobile pap smear" only for those with reclining seats though.)

Hail to the straightforward people of Reedley

Since Reedley was put on the map recently (actually we in the KRV are now officially on the map with a pin stuck in us) as the town that hired on our former, elder abuse charged, CEO, Pamela Ott as the CEO for their hospital, Sierra Kings. (They didn't know about it when they hired her, don't misunderstand)

As has been reported on this blog, Miss Ott, was put on administrative leave, unpaid, by the Sierra Kings District board, when she was charged last month with eight counts of elder abuse stemming from her turbulent employment and leadership here at KVHD.

The CFO, Barabra Jennings, who was hired on by Ott, according to the chairwoman of the board, Trish Johnson, who also said that Ott never told them what the court date was about, that the charges came as a total surprise.

(Yeah, she was quite the surprise package here too)

But I like to keep up with the Reedley news as the hospital there is now in bankruptcy, though trying to salvage some of the plans of recovery, with an interim CEO and CFO.

The Reedley Exponent put up such an intriguing headline last week, I couldn't help but be impressed.

"Local Hospital Chairwoman under siege."

(Now I did have my "shock and awe" campaign, but that indeed is not as cool had I been able to put some of the KVHD board and administrators actually "under siege.")

I so like the attitude they have in Reedley about their healthcare. As we know healthcare can sometimes do more damage than good, so it is a dead serious issue. (coming soon: "A Patient's Plea," a rural healthcare nightmare)

According to the article, by Exponent editor, Cheryl Lingo, Trish Johnson received a visit from two members of the community, who on their own accord, asked that Mrs. Johnson step down from her role as Sierra Kings chairwoman.

Yes! Be direct, be honest, you're not doing the job, you're a public servant, and the public is asking you to do the right thing.

No...she didn't step down. (We know that from our local situation. I've not only said step down, I've yelled it, to their faces. But ego is tough skin to tear through. And there is also the fact these people in office, any kind of political office, think that we voted them in to serve themselves and not us. Did you vote for that kind of service?)

But good job Reedley for taking it to them and speaking out against mediocrity.

I would like to say that I am personally sorry you ended up with Pam Ott in your area. I'm sure had you not gotten the letters of recommendation from the likes of our "terminally" a board member, Brad Armstrong, or our famous public speaker, Bob Jamison, or even Aspen Street Architects, you may have looked beyond the facade.

(I wish there was a board of directors I could sit on and vote to close that radio station Mr. Jamison enjoys using as his play toy. I need to ask someone if the hospital is doing any advertising still with the station. Since I don't really like to listen anymore, I haven't noticed. I'll find out.)

So, thank you for again setting an example for the craven, apathetic and ill informed people of the Kern River Valley. I wish you a hospital of luck.