Kern Valley Sun Newspaper takes on alleged KVHD "choking incident"

Three news accounts: was the best "saved" for last?

Interestingly we have at least three different “news type outlets” who have covered the alleged “elder abuse” incident and yet it appears we have been given at least three creative accounts of the situation which occurred at the Kern Valley Healthcare District on Monday, Aug. 23.

As has been reported a Registered Nurse allegedly grabbed an eldery woman by the throat at the hospital. The Kern County Sheriff's have verified that an incident has been reported by KVHD to have occurred as red marks were noticed on the victim's neck and the nurse was arrested and has been released on bail.

After reading a comment on this blog it occurred to me that initial statements from the hospital were not as neatly tailored as what has appeared a week later in the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper (August 31 edition..today for now)

As the Sun only rises off the presses every Wednesday of the month here in “Hooville” sometimes called the Kern River Valley, they are ten days out since the original statements given or reported to the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper, which was obviously wearing its running shoes that day as they snatched up the first prize which is the first report.

This is actually a good thing as it will help me make a point here.

The first article or report of this alleged choking incident was published on Wednesday, August 25, two days after the incident which is supposed to have taken place on the 23rd.

The first article attempts to put together elder abuse charges and doesn’t contain any information about the location of the incident being inside the emergency room as opposed to the nursing center, the KV Sun reported, except to say the woman was treated there and it was reported to ER Director Dr. Sacapano.

But the quote from the KVHD CEO, Tim McGlew, according to the Californian article was “"We've never had any issues with him before," McGlew said of Gotico (the nurse charged). "This was so off the wall."

I wrote to see if the hospital had anymore to say and a more public relations response is now formed, three days from the incident in question.

When I got my response via email regarding the matter, again it doesn't clarify the location, but it does add more information: "Mr. Gotico has worked with the facility for some years as a traveling nurse. He was hired on as an employee about one month ago. He is a registered nurse. We had not experienced any behaviors of the kind demonstrated by this individual before Monday night. It was to all involved, a surprise. Where the Californian was not exactly accurate was in who reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office. The House Supervisor, who witnessed the event, immediately told Dr. Sacapano (who was on duty that night), and he directed her to contact the Sheriff’s Office, which is our protocol. Dr. Sacapano then attended to the patient. Nursing Administration was then notified, and I was then called. The Board was then promptly notified of the incident. We reported the incident to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and have also notified the California Board of Registered Nursing."

Now, today, sleepless from a toothache and barking dogs, I read the Sun’s version, and I realize that things do change if you give it more than a week. "The Sun will come out tomorrow," sing along everyone...

The well worded article is not only a work of magical artistic manipulation, but it’s as if they know and nobody else does. “The Aug. 23 incident may bring to mind memories of reported past abuse of residents in the district’s Skilled Nursing Facility. Yet for all intents and purposes, that is where the similarities end.”

(oh really?)

That statement basically says this was not 9/11 folks, it was an anomaly as we not only run a newspaper part time but we have people at the hospital 24 hours a day. (I do though) There could indeed be similarities as one of the characteristics of an event like this is the actual charge itself: Elder abuse.

Why it was not assault is a good question for all, but our fallen nurse has been released from jail, and well, we don’t have any records to verify anything yet. However, the Sun seems to know more about this than the rest of us.

Now, Dr. Pormir, former KVHD CEO, Pamela Ott, and former DON Gwen Hughes are all charged with the same citation...386 B and by the state of California, Attorney General's office.

In the case of the previous three it was death, not like the recent violent or choking incident, it could have been a murder charge. It looks like there are similarities in that the cases could have been, murder and assault.

Which charges elder abuse 386B or murder and assault carry the most penalties? (more on this topic soon as we get back to the elder abuse case now teetering on the brink of trial)

Here’s another good one: “Hospital staff and administration reacted swiftly and decisively to last week’s incident involving registered nurse Rene Gachon Gotico, 65, and an 79-year-old female patient.”

According to what person or persons is there a factual evidence of “swiftness?"

They have had time for lots of good damage control this past week though. I guess that’s why they held the story a week...(not that I know that or have factual evidence of “held the story,” as I wasn't there.)

The article goes on to say that McGlew, now able to give a graphic description of the night’s events, has the situation in the hands of the sheriff’s immediately. However, in my response from both the Sheriff’s report and the CEO, there was not as “swift” action as has been described in the most recent “Soap Opera Weekly” report.

Now, am I wrong, but isn’t there a restroom or a bed pan or a mobile toilet in most hospitals? However, the Sun articles alludes to there not being any sort of way to relieve yourself in the ER. I think it would be cheaper to buy port a potty’s than build a new restroom, and maybe safer, if that's the point to that statement.

There is also no other account in the Sun’s whole story but the new one from McGlew who was not even at the scene at the time of the incident.

Could have made a call and asked the Sheriff’s department for a couple of specifics in my opinion. Just so you could report that the Public Information Officer said the incident took place at 7 pm, and the call came in at 8:40 pm. Another comment on this blog, asks what was the delay? I highly doubt we will ever get a complete answer to that question. (By the way thank you for your comments you do make me think and it gives me ideas as to what the concerns are with the community so that I can attempt to address them.)

And the Sun reports that McGlew said the nephew of the victim is "pleased" with the response to the situation with his Aunt. Can we hear a statement from the family as to how THEY feel about this latest "surprise?"

In 2007, a woman whom I cannot identify, but hospital insiders know, her family was paid off in a well kept secret mediation to keep the short staffing, prescription changes, from reaching the public. A family member said they needed the money to bury their mother, but regretted taking the pay off.

I'm not saying that this nephew or any other family members are going to sue or ask for some reparations, they may simply be okay with a criminal trial. But knowing people don't particularly care for their eldery parents or grandparents being physically violated I'm going to have to wonder.

How they handle it is their business, and no judgment from this camp. I am simply making a potential, hypothetical, and rhetorical too, reference to what has been done in the past to keep these things outside the public's good eye.

Will this pleased person, with a perfectly profitable court case, just walk away? Well, let’s wait and see what the Sun has planned for their follow up. They obvioulsy have some sort of name?

We know there are four potential civil cases waiting in the wings at the healthcare district ready to be discussed with the board in a closed session tonight, so this could be another one to watch on the Kern County Superior Court website of entertainment. (that's the site that covers most of what KVHD does)

But there’s one woman attributed in the story who enjoyed and felt truly respected by this nurse suspected of assaulting an elderly woman: Lucille Barr. She was surprised, according to author of the article Susan Barr, as it always seems to be the quiet ones. (That would then exclude me wouldn’t it?)

So, if you’re ever bored, lonely, angry, dispeptic, have some insomnia, just read the three responses and stories, all easily available to you via the internet. KV Sun, Baker, blog title...right here in fact:

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x464578841/Nurse-arrested-on-felony-elder-abuse-charge

http://kvsun.com/articles/2010/08/31/news/doc4c7d5bdb7c5b6778177381.txt

http://kernvalleyhospital.blogspot.com/2010/08/nurse-arrested-for-grabbing-79-year-old.html


Don’t forget the KVHD board of directors meeting tonight, Sept. 1 at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria. Bring your eggs, lettuce and tomatoes as some of these “events” turn out to be “Melodrama”-tic...