Persistance and Tenacity, requires a new chapter, a new beginning....

Friday, October 28, 2011

PRA requests: shutting out the public...KVHD under Fire

It may not be Wall Street, but there's a wall on this street: Kern Valley Healthcare District

Before the presentation of the strategic plan, I received the draft with the initial plans, such as becoming closer partners with other clinics in town. Okay...

The first draft indicated only "Sienna Wellness Institute," would be cozying up to the district, as if they are not already.

The institute is owned by Dr. Robert Gross, DO, KVHD board member, hospitalist, hospitalist group utilizing his clinic employees, former adversary who hired an attorney against the district, along with lining his clinic with campaign signs for the newly elected board vote, David Derr. His partner is Dr. Finstad, the Medical Director for the hospital.

How much closer could they possibly get?

Having the draft to compare to the final version made it interesting as suddenly Sienna Wellness was omitted and Sierra Clinica Vista (another former debtor with "Cal Mtg.) took its place. Sienna Wellness was not even included in the final plan, why would that be? They were not forced to choose only one.

I will put the document up for all to see soon, but I want to understand something before we go there.

Stonewalling the watchdog

I wrote to KVHD board counsel, Scott Nave, of Leimieux and Oneill, and asked about why there was a special meeting for a strategic planning vote. His response was that the hospital wanted the community there to hear all about the plan. I have been around here too long to fall for that pick up line. Next, he will add, "we care."

Usually, a special meetings require some urgency, or maybe privacy, but this was not the case, as we return to the issue of how this recent strategic planning contract bidding process went awry.

How much longer will I have to accept these answers that should be simple, consistent, but we all know the community doesn't know about most of these special meetings unless they make a point of going into the hospital and finding the glass case. It's the general meetings, the first Wednesday of every month, where you see or used to see, the crowds.

Though it was a special meeting it was not informational it was action that needed immediate attention to comply with the grant requirements associated with one of the most openly bizarre bid for a contract. I have had to struggle to find out what happened with this grant money being directed at one contractor as I've explained in earlier posts.

We don't have time for the public

But certain board members have complained that meetings run "too long." I find that obnoxious as if there are issues to be dealt with, those elected weren't forced to run for the board, they get paid per meeting, and even get healthcare benefits. I would like to take umbrage with meetings being truncated by elected officials who are not fulfilling their due diligence as a trustee to the district.

(Have you ever wondered if the board or even the CEO use there own healthcare services? You'll be surprised by the answer, if I ever get it. I like confirmation first, but let me say, they likely won't be sitting next to you in the waiting room of the rural health clinic or ER.)

KVHD board in a hurry

There was an incident when I brought in my third request for an investigation of certain hospital administrators and personnel to a general board meeting. I began reading the request into the record, but was rushed, and when another audience member asked to use her three minutes to hear the rest of the request she was told she could not. Why not? There is nothing prohibiting this.

Chairwoman, Victoria Alwin, shut down the request with a weak excuse, regarding something about taking too much time, dominating the meeting and keeping board members late. Apparently, Miss Alwin, has forgotten she is "serving" on the board. Try coffee or tea.

Or maybe we can go "tele-board meetings" and she can work from home timing the words of the community members she serves so they don't violate the most important issue: the three minute rule.

But then, the Chairwoman's choke hold on comments, hardly touches the other issues such as a situation I reported to the KVHD, CEO, Tim McGlew and was taken aback by his response.

Clarify this for me

Why can't a person who is related to someone who has a lawsuit against the hospital file a complaint, not a claim, with the hospital regarding a totally different issue? Another unsatisfactory answer for the public.

It was a complaint from a woman whose mother has a lawsuit against the district regarding the elder abuse case from 2006/2007.

Her daughter had no claim or lawsuit filed against the district, but the CEO refused to hear her issue, which had to do with an ER doctor who treated her child, and the board counsel said he did not have to hear her "complaint."

The information I received, by email, does not seem to fit the normal course of action. She had a a right to make a complaint regardless of her relationship with the other lawsuit. And since it had nothing to do with that case, it appeared illogical, therefore untrustworthy information.

We will cover claims and complaints, but I need people to be aware, that the board attorney has told me he investigates the claims coming to the hospital. So, where is Beta-group, and how may have they answered the question as the district's liability carrier?

However, regarding simple complaints from those darn complainers out there that could actually help them improve services with the knowledge, are likely round filed. But not all complaints can be round filed especially if there is an issue with possible illegal activities or unsafe practices.

Make sure to follow up and pursue answers beyond that of the hospital.

BACK to the special strategic planning meeting: Ahoy!

Each year the hospital gets SHIP grant monies, if they qualify, and there are specific uses for the small sum averaging 9,000 dollars.

As I've been asking, why was only MICHAEL PHILPS allowed to use that money to offset his bid for the job? I've never seen this happen before...anywhere, but is certainly not done in a public hospital setting.

So, the deadline to finish this project was 8/31/11, and the regular board meeting was 9/7/11. Again, pennies turn into dollars, but all of this is fishy, and I am done fooling around with the PRA, Public records act, which has turned into requests unfulfilled dating back three years. I explained this to the hospital's attorney, and he has yet to respond.

The issues I am bringing up are the causes of the districts problems and if we continue down the same path we will get the same results. At this time, they have no bananas, they have no bananas today...(sing along)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

UPDATED:New tax measure talk of the town: Cal Mtg. and KVHD

Uncle Tim and Uncle Chet want you, but mostly your money

The news is out, the first item in the latest strategic plan is the very thing that KVHD administrators and board members don't like to talk about...your money becoming their money...taxes.

The 2010 Measure G, fell like a rock in the election under the pressure of a failing economy as hospital administrators quickly threw together a 20 million dollar GOB without notifying the community until late in the election year or having solid plans to share with people who had questions.

It probably didn't help that also in August of 2010, CEO Tim McGlew, took a raise while employees salaries were frozen, then they came to the community for more money which was to put on a new ER with radiology. McGlew is also the highest paid CEO to date, coming into a 25 bed acute care hospital, at over 200K dollars, annually, with two raises in two years, and two defaults in two years.

(How would that justify a merit raise which should be the standard in the industry using practical as well as ethical policies when paying its hired help?)

It's the Government's fault: they are government

CFO, Chet Beedle has been relieved to blame the on-going hospital financial problems on the current recession, but anyone with a knowledge of the district's history, knows this started 25 years ago when the district borrowed against valley property owners taxes to expand the hospital.

They sold bonds. Revenue bonds.

And those who know the history also understand that excuses and scapegoating are almost what they do best at KVHD.

The original sin

The expansion deal of 1986, as we know, went bad, and we paid twice as much and only built half the construction project. Do your math. You will need to add a lot of zeros, but this cost not only money, but the quality of healthcare in the valley. The ability keep up with rapidly changing technology. The inability to keep and retain quality and community requested services.

It also left them antiquated, with equipment such as PHACO machines for cataract surgery, and cardiac equipment purchased by the KVHD Hospital Foundation, stored away, not put to use, though I'm sure it was depreciated.

Hard to believe, but we had two PHACO units, and one was stored in the closet of a chiropractor for several years until he asked them to remove it. (The lack of sense and continuity in their spending is outrageous, we have barely touched on it yet)

Why should you care?

This is your debt. If you own property within the boundaries of the Kern Valley Healthcare District: you own that debt. If the hospital stops existing and paying that debt, you will begin paying that debt. Ask the residents of Concord or Pittsburgh, California, as they are finally nearing the end of paying state creditor with the office of statewide healthcare planning and development, OSHPD, our friends and anchor, CAL MTG.

The reason for my redundancy on this issue, is that many residents do not understand that they are the debt holders. When the hospital added another 6.8 million this year, I did not hear anyone flinch, when they apparently "agreed" with the district to go forward with this "Beedle deal," and encumber themselves further.

But that's not the whole story: The GOB and the new debt reserve/ not a loan though

Board Counsel, Scott Nave wrote to me shortly after I sought information from Cal Mtg. regarding the latest encumbrance, 6.8 million you and your family and future offspring recently spent.

There is a serious conflict in this area, where Mr. Nave, of Leimeux and Oneill, and the legal counsel for Cal Mtg., Don Morey, have completely different stories regarding this latest financial venture created by CFO, Chet Beedle, who has his own story, as well as CEO, Tim McGlew.

What happened to our rights?

In an effort to understand the deal, as the timing was shortly before the board voted to allow the community to hear information from another attorney, David Weinstein, who was to speak regarding all the options the district might have concerning negotiating with debt insurer, Cal Mtg. or the viability of bankruptcy, etc.

Weinstein's visit, which was solely informational, and cost less than the seat warmers in KVHD CEO, Tim McGlew's Jaguar convertible, should have been accessible prior to the decision to go forward with another "quasi-financial" deal with Cal Mtg.

But as everything KVHD, they continue to prowl at night, creating business plans that go to financial institutions without board approval, offering tax dollars to gain approval for extra money on their line of credit, holding off anyone who might know more than the CFO or have ties to others that are benefiting from these illegal and unethical practices.

Mr. Weinstein came to the valley, he spoke for 3 hours, but that was after the CFO, and CEO, had safely sealed the latest stop gap agreement for 6.8 million which would have changed the information he would be giving as we asked for information prior to any more spending. And the board voted for it.

You likely didn't hear about the options, as the local media, actually, refused to take the information or cover the story. Ask Sue Barr of the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper or call for a video copy.

So who do we believe?

Okay, two attorneys, a CFO and a CEO, walk into a bar, the first one says...I apologize, but this is a joke, to have to constantly juggle all the different answers that should be simple and straightforward.

As I said, the first item on the new strategic plan is to begin the campaign for another general obligation bond, GOB, that is collected in property taxes from residents of the valley. The bond CANNOT be used to pay the debt, but somehow I believe they will "funge it."

Nave responds in an email:

The District has not eliminated a general obligation bond from future plans. In fact, it was one of the first items in the strategic plan. Cal Mortgage is aware of and, to our knowledge, in concurrence with this plan
But Cal Mtg. said they were clearing up the confusion:
I hope this clears up any confusion surrounding the current situation between the District and the Office. The intent and effect of this plan should be to increase Medicare and Medi-Cal cost reimbursements to the District and lower overall costs, particularly in the short run, to allow the District to implement steps to increase revenue and reduce expenses.

This will result in more time and money which the District can use to improve services, make capital improvements and generate sufficient revenue to support the District’s medical services without the necessity of a general obligation bond measure.

Don Morey

What we have here is one story from KVHD that they are in sync with Cal Mtg. and all believe they should go forward with a tax hike next year.

But as Cal Mtg. responded above, they gave them this last bit of crumbs, to avoid having to overburden this valley with a GOB...so they say.

We're playing hot potato with this

Now, on January 5, 2011, Chet Beedle requested that Cal Mtg. make this agreement, but on December 2, 2010, the board had voted to let the community hear about ALL the financial options, which were to be presented by David Weinstein initially. We asked for this information and the board voted to go forward.

But just as in 2009, when I had asked the board and administrators, and even local government to try and negotiate some sort of deal, a deferment, anything that could stop the bleeding, again the CFO, Chet Beedle, managed to keep that from happening. Beedle and then CEO, Rick Carter, along with Bradley Armstrong, began harassing the board member in favor of attempting a solution.

It was called off, because of bullying on the KVHD end.

Just a minutes

Mr. Beedle repeatedly lied about the financial condition of the hospital on video, and in emails. The only thing Cal Mtg. has done is read the minutes from the meetings and have some secret meetings. That is why I had to protest the minutes at a board meeting, with long time administrative secretary Heidi Sage, who was not putting in my comments verbatim as I had requested.

The film is rather funny, as the board members argued with me that I could NOT pull the minutes from the agenda, as they didn't even know the meeting basics. I guess that is what the board attorney Scott Nave is being paid the big bucks for.

But they also lied to Cal Mtg.

In a series of emails beginning in November of 2009, between KVHD CFO, CEO, and Cal Mtg. case manager, Mabel Chan, it becomes clear that the administration was hiding the dire situation occurring financially from both the community and their insurer.

Beedle was attempting to get a total of one million for his operational line of credit, but was being turned down. He offered up the fact that the bank who would fork over the full million would also get to manage the GOB monies he told Chan that our community was supporting at that time...Feb/March 2010. He said they had 80% support.

According to CEO, Tim McGlew, in an email dated April 2010, they had not done a survey as I had inquired after reading the correspondence, and he was going to "look into it." I'm waiting patiently.

The defeat of the bond measure last year, showed the community has learned more about the issue and turned their backs on the district and sent them a clear message...on a billboard: NO ON MEASURE G.

The Beedle request on behalf of the district:

Here again, Cal Mtg. accepts Beedle's request for assistance as the piggy bank or AKA the debt reserve fund is depleted for the second time in just over ten years.

Yet, Cal Mtg. justifies the deal by simply saying the hospital has been struggling for last few years (it's 25 years to be accurate) and that the district is now attempting to reduce costs.

They also attempted to cut costs in 2005 which lead to an investigation into "short staffing, dehydrated patients, falsifying staffing documents and physical restraints in the nursing center."

It makes you wonder if there isn't some liability on both parties here in the elder abuse case or at any time when the hospital failed to provide proper and legal staffing.

Low rent district

The CFO had free rent for 10 years and now is paying $60 a month, is that what Cal Mtg. is talking about when they say reducing costs, because Beedle only began paying rent shortly before they admitted to the community they were in default on their debt covenant.

But again Beedle on film, told the audience at the July 2010 board meeting, that yes they were in default but received a special "waiver" from Cal Mtg. And when I asked Cal Mtg. what this waiver was about, Don Morey, said he did not know what Chet meant by a waiver.

Again, always discrepancies between the stories from Beedle and McGlew and Cal Mtg.

If you aren't confused now, you will be soon

Monday, October 24, 2011

Who is running the Kern Valley Healthcare District: really?

Lying to your creditor: CFO Chester N. Beedle

Perusing emails written to and from the Kern Valley Healthcare District CFO, Chet Beedle, I have a theory that either Cal Mtg. insurer of this community's debt is easily duped, or they are fine with having Mr. Beedle sending out emails regarding things not so "transparent."

Beedle has been with the district or formerly with the district's management company that hired former CEO of KHD, Pamela Ott, currently charged with elder abuse.

Dave Green and Chet Beedle came on board the sinking ship in 2000, after the obvious overwhelming debt from the expansion project which was initially estimated to cost 13 million, and finally climbed up to 22 million, and yet the construction only created half the initial project.

Management companies have combed thru this valley scribbling notes, charging large sums, regarding saving a hospital ruined by debt and incompetence. Chet Beedle came from such a company, called BRIM.

(under construction: see you soon)



(Current KVHD CEO, Tim McGlew, came on board in July of 2009, in his first year he started a campaign for a "bailout" called Measure G. All the management companies, that have been involved in trying to create a solution by charging "Wall Street" prices, have overwhelmed the districts bank account, and ALWAYS the first suggestion is a tax hike. And now once again, via our new and old friends, another GOB is on the way. Watch you wallet.)



Sent: Monday, Sept. 10, 2007 10:35:24 am
From: Chet Beedle
Subject: Hi

The answer to your questions are as follows:
1) Dr. Gross wants to be the hospitalist medical director for KVHD, but he wants significantly more money to do so.
2) Yes, KVHD lost over one million dollars on their capitation contract with BFMC. The district does currently have a contract with BFMC, but it is a fee for service contract.
3) The answer to your question is yes. Cal Mtg. and the bondholders have already discussed bringing in a management company due to KVHD not meeting their bond covenants. I have staved them off by saying that we have already done this with Sycamore Asset Management Co. They will not continue to wait forever.

Thanks for the confidence about the financial position of the district for the last four years. I am just concerned that we are no longer in that position and I am not currently able to reverse that trend.

I am waiting to see if Bob Jamison will take Rick Carter to Exchange. Have a good day!

Chet Beedle


Beedle's Resume shows a sharp shooter

Reading Beedle's email showing that he has the clout to actually ignore Cal Mtg., or stave them off, mislead them, you can suddenly see a link with his resume:

3) Assisted two California district hospitals with obtaining operating lines of credit that were guaranteed by the Cal Mortgage program of the State of California.

This is quite confusing as the CFO manager of KVHD's money and perpetuity, claims to have saved district hospitals, arranging Chapter 11 reorganizations, has strategic planning strategies, but he went to school in 1976, and then prior to his arrival in these here mountains, he finally got his masters in Business at La Verne University.

But in his email, he dramatically reveals he cannot keep up with the debt that had been created before and after his arrival. For Beedle to have all this experience, I would imagine, that the situation financially was the truth.

What could he have done to assist two hospitals to obtain Lines of Credit from Cal Mtg? Fungible monies, for old debts, it seems this is how it is done. No bankruptcy with Cal Mtg., but that doesn't mean there aren't other ideas.

Current CEO, Tim McGlew, also had a relationship with the OSHPD office of Cal Mtg. when he worked for the "Home for Jewish Parents" on a multimillion dollar expansion project

There is nothing illegal about a line of credit, except when the insurer of your debt is the only one who can obtain credit for the beleaguered healthcare district. The problem is that the board and administration seemed toknow ltte about






Monday, October 10, 2011

Playing games with my heart....and yours...KVHD under Fire

Perusing the new Kern Valley Healthcare District "Strategic Plan" (rolling eyes)

I had a some time on my hands along with a strip of tape clinging to my spine this week, so I decided to begin reading the newest strategic plan opened to the public at a special meeting where the administrators at KVHD rushed to bring the plan in under the necessary time frame for those grant monies which were doled out in an interesting arrangement.

Since it was such exciting material I jumped from the table of contents straight to the new pain management section of what I will call the "high hopes and low IQ" report as the irony of this is too funny not to tell you about.

Now the hospital claims to have both an ER and a "skilled" nursing facility, but that is rather a tall order to fulfill those needs. KVHD Skilled nursing amounts to nothing more than an average nursing home can offer.

In the ER you have little in the way of services, or as the locals call it, "the band aid station" and there have been complaints, and remarks on varying sites and in the newspapers, about the "drug seekers" who consume all the time from those who are sober, non-smoking or swearing citizens, waiting patiently for the doctors to get people "high."

The irony begins in that we have an ER where the doctors and staff are so blatantly "anti-pain medication" that I can only laugh at their inability to see their own hypocrisy.

I mean if they really think this a problem rather than defaming and harassing patients, why not speak up and tell your board and manager that there should not be "pain care" here...then add your justifications at the end. (oh that's right, there are some pesky laws about caring for people's pain and not causing aggravated conditions.)

This really is an important issue we must begin to address truthfully and openly, and if you have pain management, I suggest, you begin getting a new bond to build the drug rehab center you will need when those drugs come floating out onto our streets and into the schools and you find them in your kids sock drawer.

Having pain management would be a risky business as the hospital has heard complaint after complaint about doctors and nurses in it's own ER, what would they do with a new contingent of drug addicts?

Taking most pain killers means risking addicting your mind and body to chemicals, which is a decision which should be made with ALL educational information included.

Trust me, this is not how pain management clinics are being operated, I like to call them "legal crackhouses."

A bright young man in the rehab business said they are seeing more and more average people coming in to try and get off medications that they did not know would become problematic.

Chronic pain is tricky business and takes a doctor of some worth to work out the details, keep it safe, offer options outside of simply prescribing pain killers which is what most of them are doing, and to no surprise they are doing well financially. Customers surprisingly come back again and again.

Actually, KVHD CEO, Tim McGlew, told me about the pain management in January at my bedside shortly after I stopped screaming. I'm sure he will tell us all about it, the addict profit margin, which is the bottom line they snort over there you know.

There are times for medications and times for vacations

The pharmaceutical market is flooded with pain medications, new ones, such as one I tried, called Exogal. It was really fun, as I slept the day away getting nothing done. This was not what I needed and did not fit my pain level or my health issues, or my disability.

Pain is not an easy situation even for a doctor to understand, but it comes with its own side effects. Pain can lead to stress on the body and mind, which we know can lead to any amount of ailments.

Exagol is one of many variations of addictive medicines that are to be used at a "HOSPITAL" and not bought from a strung out pharmacy tech or from someone's grandmother's medicine cabinet.

There are many people out there who are in pain, not catching your toe on the coffee table, but passing a bowling ball type of pain, or a broken bone, nerve damage, things that not everyone can relate to and understand, these are serious, on-going problems, which usually involve complex health issues.

Bringing compassion to a person in pain is usually a natural response in normal human beings, however, this is KVHD, and we have to maybe look at why they have become the hardened rocks who think giving out a dose of pain killer to someone in pain is encouraging addiction.

They are obviously not trained

And I've noted that there needs to be serious discussion, not just Obama talk, but real information on how these pain medications, or any others for that matter are to be used and in the most functional way.

If you are nauseous they give you an anti-nausea medicine in the ER. Why? Because this is uncomfortable and it could cause other issues such as dehydration.

What these doctors and staff are failing to gather is that this is the same thing, except that it has to be done without prejudice but obviously with some judgment.

And who can you count on for good judgment? KVHD and a pain clinic? No, I don't think so.

There are so many other things to repair

Before KVHD sails off on the Titanic plan with their "high hopes" they have much that they could do better already, but unfortunately the long run of mismanagement, petty infighting, bullying, registry costs, inbred contracting and the financial catastrophe, have prevented this district from becoming what it had the potential to become.

As we used to say in baseball, it's the fundamentals, and we practiced rigorously until the moves were seamless because we cared about our performance. KVHD has not gotten the basics, they are illiterate to the needs of the community, openly hostile to patients and employees, and now they want to manage more responsibility such as the comfort and well being of pain management patients, or as they say in the ER, "Junkies," "Drug seekers," "crackheads."

Can I see your license please?

First, where does this ER get off supposedly trying to treat my heart condition when they can't fix a broken arm?

Second, umm, why didn't I get told I had a heart condition? There are serious problems with the records, and now the government is pushing money at the electronic records which certainly would help...but somebody still has to gather the information and get it to the patient in time for early detection which costs less both in terms of money and health.

Which in my case, and others who have been sharing information, is a problem they are not even aware of or actively correcting. One person told me she had a test revealed to her after THREE YEARS that she had a gastric issue, which now may require surgery. Go KVHD!

I'm sure the average person can see the danger and the outcome is never in favor of the patient. The law has insured that doctors will not have to incur high costs for liability insurance, so their "service" is unlike normal business practices in that they are allowed to get away...with anything.

The Keystone Cardiologists from the KVHD ER


(pulse and oxygen saturation Saturday, October 8. 2011: I NEED MY NARCAN, Tom, Phil, and the KVHD cardiology team...lead by Dr. Suckapiano)

As I sat reading the latest in KVHD propaganda, or as they call it, the strategic plan, I could hear the thumps in my chest, the very same symptom on the day that KVHD should have killed me, but accidentally left me alive, and I'm kind of grouchy about it too.

Next week I will be given the tests to see if I have to actually go through and have a pacemaker implanted which if it is the proper solution, I will hope I can have it done. Since this recent medical find out of the "KVHD X files" (also known as our medical records) was only uncovered in the last month which is criminal really, I have to begin the tour I should have made last year: to the proper doctors.

It has been a lot to consider that in one visit to the ER at KVHD, that I now face something I had no idea I would be facing at this age.

The only thing about it, is that it at least makes sense this time.

The new KVHD ER threat

What they did in that ER to me was the new threat at the KVHD ER. The doctors were not treating my heart condition that they themselves only knew about, but they treated a drug overdose which wasn't there with a medication called Narcan which is usually just uncomfortable to a reviving overdose victim, but to a heart patient with autoimmune, the response was chest pains, screaming, and stress to my heart.

So, the question becomes, why if this was the proper treatment, did they stonewall me, and not tell me what medication or treatment I was being given? The craven nurse would not even make eye contact.

And secondarily, this is not the treatment for bradycardia, let me be clear, it is a treatment for overdose victims who are in respiratory distress, unconscious, I was driving, walking and talking, until they sure showed me.

Pain management patients need to avoid the KVHD ER until future notice as this is a potentially dangerous practice, as Narcan is usually not a problem if there is a drug overdose, but when it's given to a person who has other or unknown illnesses, it can be harmful. Never allow KVHD to give medications without consent, and if they are unwilling to tell you or write it down for you...RUN!

Danger, either these doctors and nurses purposefully sent me on a injurious, torturous trip, or they are...quacks. I think we need to do some research after we heard our former, suing us, hugging us, surgeon, who came up with a few background issues a patient should be privy to prior to seeking his services.

It's time to see their credentials first: all trust gone

I say, we had Pam Ott's diploma mill credentials, Chet Beedle's amazing resume where he is three places at once, the DON of the SNF not quite all credentials, and this is a public service district, where we have a right to know if the hospital is continuing its practice of hiring people with suspicious backgrounds, or affiliated with someone's friends.

Focus and Execute this blight on the valley

Oh yes, I did get to see the number one strategic plan and you all know what it is, c'mon blog readers, you're smarter, faster and stronger, than other simple consumers...it's a, a, a, GOB!

How did those clever folks over at CCAHN, the new game in town with some old faces, ever come up with that one?

Right, we should pay them tax money, as Chet Beedle, leaves a losing game of playing hospital administrator, he gets the prize of a nice retirement he is currently telling friends and colleagues about his eminent departure from the nasty sore he has left in this valley. His legacy of bogus budgets, lying to creditors, breaking promises, berating employees, will leave a bad taste, even as bad as Cal Water, in our mouths for years to come.

With a decade of Beedle's strung out financial planning, we are currently just that: out of money and time. But don't worry about Chet he's very well vested, more so than anyone else.

The jokes on us and our health

If we as members of this community had taken it upon ourselves to look past all their names on the agenda, their contracts, and truly see that we have not put up a healthcare district to be proud of, but a den of iniquity to be ashamed of. The nurse I met in Bakersfield put it best:

"Oh, I live in Lake Isabella too." He said as he wheeled me out the automatic doors of the hospital.
Of course, being who I am, I responded, "then why are you working down here?"
He put it about as good as it gets, "I did work there 25 years ago, but the administration was so corrupt that I didn't want to have anything to do with it. And nothing has changed."

There's some truth for you...the same conditions exist now which lead to the encumbrance of the community's tax dollars those 25 years ago. Without changing the conditions, we will end up feeding every finance company who eagerly claims they can help us.

(We probably even have a reverse mortgage now that I may have missed on the consent agenda...)

The hospital has been eaten away at as if it were covered in termites. This is not a matter of a few mistakes, this is an ailing hospital, stalked by predators in the healthcare industry who know how to profit from these situations. Such as management companies...BRIM....Sycamore Management Company (via a Beedle email) who keep coming up with the same bail out proposition: "big money" as Chet calls the GOB.

But big money, actually any money, is spent recklessly without regard for the owners of the district: us.

Sycamore left with MILLIONS and the owner told me he obtained the contract simply by looking in the newspaper and finding the hospital nursing center was at the point of closure, immediate jeopardy. There's some literal ambulance chasing.

In white collar crime there is a pattern to be established, and I think after a quarter of a century we can now see the pattern, but have "yet" to conquer it.

(Next architectural drawings we paid 10K for last year and probably will again. But we may get help through old chum, David Yarborough, former owner of Aspen Street Architects, who happens to be doing a very similar expansion to his ER at Gridley Memorial.
Yes, Mr. Yarborough, who worked with KVHD on it's seismic plans for several years, is now the CEO, of Gridley, and brought on his former company Aspen Street to help him on his project. Gosh, it's so good to be back together again...sharing ideas, strategic plans, and money. Soon Caldwell, Flores and Winters will rejoin, excuse me, continue their active contract... And it was all Tim McGlew's doing. Thanks Tim.)