KVHD, CEO, Tim McGlew, shown above during the November general board meeting, as he tries to explain to the community, that the state of California, and Jerry Brown, as well as the faulty Medicare program, will be the downfall of the district.Looking emotional, McGlew, who has been CEO for two years, being paid a salary not seen in rural healthcare, almost 230K annually, gave a speech about how the Critical Access Hospital program maybe eliminated along with statewide cuts to reimbursement in the much maligned skilled nursing facility, which, he said would leave the district without the extra funds it would need to survive the current economic climate.
However, the demon for the night was Jerry Brown's budget cuts as this is the KVHD way of communication: blame.
The Critical Access Hospital program was marred in a study done regarding quality issues associated with these rural hospitals and the big issue became a potential change in the way the hospitals MAY SOMEDAY receive their reimbursement: patient quality.
Having a huge debt, and a CEO, who said cutting his huge salary or that of the other administrators, would not help the hospital, leads the community to wonder, and then call me to ask, "what is going on?"
Back at you
Those who have ignored the issues that have been plaguing the hospital for almost 25 years, will now have to wait and perhaps trust, that something good this way will come. And it will take the whole community to do it when it comes time.
It is not the CAH program, nor the Medicare issue, as McGlew even admits in his speech which is on video. (But it's definitely Jerry Brown taking the swipes. I must say Brown is not known for his Jaguars, Mr. McGlew...)
There have been no bills passed, or vetoed, and the lawsuits against the state and various programs, are the bread and butter for the lawyers, it has nothing to do with the district per say.
McGlew told a confused audience last Wednesday night that KVHD joined with California Hospital Association for the lawsuits which are meant to protect the rural health community from these sharp cuts.
He said they could not see this coming and they are surprised. How could that be when nobody else was surprised by the ancient data? (there's more we will contend with later)
Who is the rural health community?
Because such programs as the CAH, and Medicare as well as state run, Medi-cal, have not instituted stringent policies to protect the tax payers monies which fund these hospitals, they are allowed to get away with charging for unnecessary or even negligent testing and treatments, many other types of cost reimbursements designed to increase costs right under the noses of the people writing the checks.
According to a Medicare representative hospitals are not liable for these sorts of mistakes or even intentional money making activities, like those acuity figures we all know nothing about...
Then there are those who hire onto hospitals that are in financial ruin and offer to fix them: for a price. The KRV has paid that price long enough now...
The Staph on staff
There are those in the healthcare business who don't seem to understand that when a hospital is in trouble the people they serve are also in trouble due to safety or billing concerns or even public facilities without basic needs bringing care down to a level that they can afford.
For instance, at one point, KVHD took down its hand cleansers in an effort to save money. I'm sure people have read about the spread of staph inside hospitals and clinics, as staff have come up positive in tests as carriers of the staph bacteria. That was not a good idea Mr. Beedle.
But with desperate times come desperate measures, and those who want to continue to profit are Tim McGlew and Chester Beedle.
The government has a good idea...no way!
But can we afford to hurt our community members? That is part of the main issue, and the government actually has come to our aid in that they are no longer interested in hearing about how bad the rural health system has become.
There is a possibility that at some point hospital's who do not fulfill the needs and become viral, or harmful to the people they are to serve, may not get reimbursed and should fall away as any other business unable to meet its customers needs. The second penalty would be they could lose their certification somehow.
Much like my contention that KVHD should not be giving raises for poor performance, the government has now caught onto that idea too.
CFO, Chester Beedle, continues to mislead the valley and KVHD board members regarding the truth in fact as to the longevity of the hospital. He has been hostile to any idea regarding addressing the old debt, and in his time at KVHD, has increased the debt substantially.
Board member, and radio jock, Bob Jamison, has not said much regarding the district's current financial circumstances, but was aboard the Measure G train last year, and had his own "construction committee" some years ago trying to break ground on this useless, GOB, they want to believe will help. (see Cal Mtg.)Jamison was also a solid backer of the former administration lead by CEO, Pamela Ott, that tried to cut staff in 2oo5 and found themselves in a corner two years later as the hospital tried out chemical restraining in their skilled nursing facility, which lead to an elder abuse case, still not settled.
In 2007, Jamison, brought Ott to his radio post where he allowed her to talk about how there was NO elder abuse, and even families now potentially ready for civil cases, were callers, trying to get through the thick smoke screen lead by this board member.
The skilled nursing facilityWhile we watch the failure of government to downsize and include grass root style democracy in the new healthcare proposals from President Obama, there are reasons we are at this point.
(Hold on the phone's ringing)
I just spoke to someone who wants me to send $150 to President Obama and the Democrats and I had a two words for him: NO WAY!
When President Obama decided to change the healthcare system he made one mistake: he didn't allow us all to be a part of spending our own money on our own health. Why do we have to do it this way, it's starting to cause the crumbling of the states, and us little people who are ill and need help.
As far as tossing grenades at Jerry Brown he had little or no choice in the cuts aimed at the rather lucrative long term care industry which has seen its funds slipping away for years into the hands of types such as Sycamore management, who should have been wearing masks and holding pistols when they left with a bag full KRV coins. And there was Chet Beedle handing it out like candy on Halloween.
The CEO says the cuts suggested by Jerry Brown, of course, opposed by all who want more money, will not allow the hospital to continue functioning as they are losing 1.8 million.
And Tim McGlew should be angry, as if he leaves this valley he will not only never see a salary such as the good people of this community have provided him, he will also have the reputation of losing a hospital for his resume...
So, no, Democrats, you will not see a dime from me, but then Tim McGlew, who is grieving the loss of his skilled nursing monies, might send you something from his "super size me" annual salary.
The past comes back to bite you
Yes, the skilled nursing facility is not getting the funding it so desires, and is used to, and it could have been different as had there been some circumspection and not just cash collection in 1986, we would have 140 beds for elderly residents, and would likely survive this challenge. (well, with different administrators and educated, interested, less self-serving, board members)
Because they were so anxious to get the SNF monies during this era, that is when they decided to sell revenue bonds to build this extra portion onto our mini-hospital. There was money all these years, Medicare was trying to bolster long term care, so the issue was to climb aboard.
Then what is going on now?
Tim McGlew, I'm sure, spent his weekend writing something to help clarify all of his claims that the government is the main cause of their problems at KVHD. He will address it as if he is helping you understand, but what you need to understand is you will pick up the tab if they don't come through.
We have heard promise after promise, action is another story. Let's see what the hospital has to say about it's potential closure. I bet it's called measure something or another...
Employees, start sending out those resumes and protect yourself, as there is a serious problem and this hospital IS very likely to be unable to continue in operation.
Patients begin to look for new doctors as the Rural Health Clinic may not only be missing the popular but packing his bags early, Dr. Nadler, they maybe missing the whole clinic.
(Remember last year when the Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy lost money as the administration told us they were the anchor financially and must be closed? Well, they did lose money as they prematurely made this statement. Now, the CFO reported at this month's meeting the pharmacy is doing well, and has been for the last year and a half. ??? Can't wait for more information...Keep writing and talking Tim.)
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