So, you wanted to be a Kern Valley Healthcare district board member, well

So, you wanted to a Kern Valley Healthcare board member or even administrator in the wake of state criminal charges, state budget cuts, federal healthcare reform, an uncertain future, and a poor little pharmacy that could.

I wanted to hear more from the board of directors tonight at the meeting, more in the way of questions, throw in a few thoughtful suggestions, maybe some input generally, but I didn't hear any; I don't know where they stand on all the things discussed; in other words I didn't learn alot from them.

An unusually scant finance report followed.

But the public had a say, people had a say tonight and the whole table full of board members, a CEO who did defend the CFO and his original analysis of the pharmacy, though he modified it later (more on that), a Clinical Control Officer, the Control Officer, a lawyer of course, and an adminstrative secretary, (the minds behind the hospital) heard what was on the public's mind: the pharmacy and employees.

It was very specific to the topic as much has been said about the pharmacy in the paper on the blog as there were initial reports of instant closure, as was being reported as the pharmacy was losing money.

But resident reiterated the necessity of this little business our hospital cannot run. They don't have the money to stock the shelves with medications,, although they did specify it was "hard to get" medication, which is not specific enough, and they seemed to be against spending the money to run the pharmacy properly.

I heard little from the board as the chairwoman deferred to the CEO, Tim McGlew and Chief Financial Officer, Chet Beedle. Board members were too quiet.

The public, many being new to the KVHD scene, was inquisitive and polite. But the board was overwhelmed, but Dr. Gross did add as much information as he could to the different medication scenarios arose during the questions.

I say this because I know it's difficult to deal with the public, and being a public servant really requires some thinking before leaping.

There's so much confusion that arises from the details that go along with this hospital, its role as a public owned entity (we pay property taxes) with elected officials.

We have been, I have been, in the past mostly, stonewalled by these people. They assumed by just not answering they could get away with this sort of behavior with no recourse, and they are right, they have accomplished just that.

It's a pattern here, like kids who see other kids getting away with things, they pass along he bad habits, and I've seen hints of it here.

I must say there are those who are speaking out, the CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, has more than generous with her lists of projects and the successes, the numbers of staff used 3.2 or better, but sometimes we don't understand what that means or the context of the numbers. The effort is appreciated.

On the pharmacy, because it has been such a concern, it will remain open, with some limitations put on it, such as hours, staffing. But little in the way of revenue generation talk was produced, and the subject was dominated by the public concerns.

I know that several of the board members do care about what has happened, but I would like to see and hear more input. We need a strategic planning event. (We can all bring our own lunches)

I also realize our new CEO has his hands full coming into this situation with the financial as well as fellow administrative members.

A citizen who has been around and has been both political as well as cheerleading for the hospital, gave speech, I kid you not, on the great job current finance officer, Beedle, was doing and has been doing.

She gloated about his turning around a bad situation and she agreed with his faulty assertions about the pharmacy, though that's not how she put it.

Marge Swendleson, yes, she would say something like this, that would be expected, but our CEO, defended Beedle by saying the auditing firm which reviewed the pharmacy agreed with Beedle but they want to keep the pharmacy open for the public.

When I said Beedle should go right along with his analysis which in turn has cost the pharmacy business and reputation, McGlew said Beedle has 25 or 2 million years of experience, I guess he just wanted to throw that in.

The night found the board and administration facing questions from the public and the answers weren't there. I am asking for stronger goals and direction.

Yes, we have to look at every part of this operation, and all its services. We have telemedicine on its way. Some people who have been to college recently have taken classes where the teacher is somewhere in the bathtub or cooking, and they teach the class via television.

This way the hospital can consult with specialists other doctors who can give their input on a patient, help diagnose whether a patient should be moved or can they be taken care of here at home.

The skilled nursing facility always a topic got top billing as making money, less than expected, but more than hoped for.

But I reminded Mr. Beedle after his glowing report from Swendleson that he and the two members of the board voted, allotted a lot of money to an old friend of ours, namely Rick Carter, Former CEO. Now we're pinching pennies, but less than a year ago Carter had some agreement to have a train ticket to the train station and at least one way to Seattle.

However, what got me about these outrageous give aways, was that KVHD paid for his lunch. He couldn't pay for his own lunch?

What a meeting again.

There was a closed session after the meeting regarding the lawsuits which have hit the hospital since the nursing center disaster almost three years ago.

More to follow...