Will Obama save our rural hospital: Sunday's vote looks to pass

I got on the Internet late today and found there is definitely hope that President Obama will have success or whatever you want to call it, he will have accomplished his goal of passing a healthcare reform bill.

What I find sad is that had he passed a bill "eliminating" earmarks and the pork from the barrel, which would have been a big seller, LOL, had he done that first, it would make sense then to push through a bill that is not "finished" or polished.

It's a huge economic change, people forced to buy insurance, 95 million new customers under the age of 65, and another stimulus to the medicare recipients with a deal made with the pharmaceutical companies in advance for paying for millions worth of advertising to back the bill.

(In bed with the drug dealers calling the insurance companies the whores, excuse my language.)

A month ago two board members from the Kern Valley Healthcare District, the CEO, Tim McGlew, Chet Beedle Financial engineer (choo choo), had a meeting about a potential general obligation bond. The meeting was closed to the public and not all board members attended, although, it would seem this meeting may be crossing the line into a "serial meeting" as outlined in the Brown Act.

It also was not open to the public, no response was offered by the Tim McGlew or former CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, regarding the full extent of the meeting.

The meeting was about money and how this hospital will survive the economic woes it is currently experiencing.

Some members have discussed bankruptcy which is unpopular with Beedle and McGlew, as we are encumbered with debt in the form of revenue bonds,
which could make the bankruptcy shaky as the state of California (you know that lovely place that has ruined itself financially) insures this debt out of a quaint little office, called "Cal Mtg."

Both Beedle and McGlew are familiar with Cal Mtg. as Beedle joined KVHD when Cal Mtg. seized the hospital which was flailing under a financial burden they could have actually, if the correct decisions were made, could have made this hospital the Taj Mahal.

Had the bond money created the full plan, this hospital would be a whole new building, with updated tech stuff, plenty of services to keep the valley happy. But some board members, such as Brad Armstrong, sat by while we were ripped off by contractors who never finished the job.

Then Cal Mtg. gave us more money so we could still not finish the job, now just owe nine more million dollars. Bravo.

So, now today, on the very night President Obama has won the first round: don't forget elephants don't forget, and there will likely be another vote before this all over. But it could happen and if it does...

Would we need that increase in property taxes in the valley to sustain the hospital?

But first thing that hit me was the new bill will put an explosive amount of people right into the system. How will that change things? Fast, is what I say. People who weren't going to the doctor will be now.

And spanking the insurance companies for not covering certain tests, treatments, and better cruises for the doctors, will most certainly bring about more business: right here in the valley.

(And what is more business called: volume. Oh yeah, that was Beedle's idea. Here's your nickel for that advice)

Here at the rural Kern Valley Healthcare District, our financial advisor, Chet Beedle, has been saying for a few months that the financial problems happening are caused by the fact that 40% of the people treated here don't have insurance.

Some are able to qualify for state and federal charity programs, but are resistant to do so and therefore being called the problem itself. The burden is the customer of the hospital who doesn't fill out forms to help the hospital get paid.

You see this is new, because it has always averaged 10%, and now we're being shaken by this huge figure of almost half of the people who come to the hospital are not insured or capable of paying or even willing to fill out a few forms making themselves fall into the "indigent" pile. (Bad, bad, customers. Hospital's great though, they wait three years to send bills for $8. Thank the heaven's nobody pays attention to this hospital, because you couldn't pass this hypocrisy off on anyone with a brain.)

Now, if these people are suddenly able to get insurance because Obama commands it, sustain the payments, would our 40% figure drop to a normal amount such as 10% and or even below? Thereby loosing us from having to do any of the things the community would love, like higher property taxes, or sky high sales taxes, or a bankruptcy?

There's too much not to floating around we need to wait and see how it all lands, but we will follow the hospital closely as there are many questions right now that must be answered.

But if we are someone relieved of the huge financial burden, it's time for a change at KVHD. It's been a chronic problem, when do we actually fix this, and quit hiding in the back rooms from the public, or I should say me.

(Just a little side story here, I found out from a reliable source recently that there is a nice gentlemen in maintanence that plays two roles at the hospital: first he does his job, then he attends board meetings. His job at the board meetings is me. From now on we sit together and I get pictures of him for my family and maybe a cheap frame. See you soon. And thanks to whomever thought that one up. Oh, we are going to have so much fun, I can't wait.)

(And when we finally get some sanity back or started, please, can we start from the top and move down this time?)

Just as a final thought, there is word on the street that Chet Beedle who has a residence out of the area, and has been using our KVHD rental units free of charge for the last ten years, is suddenly paying a few bucks a day.

Question: is that his only contribution? Tracy Brown and her employees used the apartments; traveling staff used the apartments; Tim McGlew used it while he house hunted; former CEO, Rick Carter, had a place; can anyone tell me what is wrong with this picture? Test at next board meeting.

Here's my latest Obama camp email for you to peruse; I'm on all the lists:
For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.This is what change looks like.My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.Thank you,President Barack Obama

Bakersfield Now and the Kern Valley Sun only one's with Elder Abuse stories

UPDATE: I find it interesting to go back over this blog as it seems a bit haunted, as I say things, and funny enough they happen. This post is no different as the June preliminary hearing was reset until August, as the court could not accommodate the continuance requested for one week by the Department of Justice who had an expert witness on vacation. Okay.

Boy, the Attorney General Jerry Brown did go on the path of the Governor's office. Great, now there's absolutely nobody to call if there are problems. I say this because the state's case is a "loser." There's no way Muni is going to get this botched investigation past our new lawyers for Ott, Donald Etra. Woops, he's Dr. Pormir's attorney or is it Hughes? If nothing else they like to take car rides together, all of them.

The cries for help, the botched investigation, the lack of interest other than a bid for the top office from the state.

It's sad.

But after Mr Etra and Ginsburg passed through our town a few months ago and had a visit with what they said was a simple gathering of support for Dr. Pormir, they ended up with a story and some documents. Not exactly a nice thing to do as the duo teamed up with Jim Faulkner and Bruce Blythe, helping the three left to face...the ominous, no...sloppy DOJ.

I'm going to open this thing up like a wound soon, and you the reader, the players, whoever you are, you're going to be up here on the plank.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I, of course, decided to sleep in on this court date, let someone else do it, I thought rolling up in my comforter would be better. And there they were, the Kern Valley Sun, finally doing their job. ZZZZZZZZZ

Though, Bakerfield Now, had the early edition of the story, it was one long paragraph, with the facts. It was out on the internet before 2 pm.

The Sun came in later, but they had the best picture of Ott and her attorney, Jim Faulkner, it's worth taking a peek at as it seems the editor jumped out of bathroom or a hallway and scared the two of them. For Ott fans you may enjoy that look on her face, something out of a B movie.

Unfortunately, the facts were not correct as they tried to overwrite rather than sticking to the latest, basic facts, where you can't go wrong.

In the Sun article, Perfect said that Pormir, Hughes, and former defendant, Debbi Hayes, were all charged with assault stemming from an incident where a resident was held down and given an injection of Risperdal, a very strong antipsychotic which has to be given in slow, smaller doses, or the patient could possibly react and die.

However, It is former Director of Nursing, Gwen Hughes who has the assault charges, NOT DR. PORMIR (that's for the hard of hearing) or Ott. And Debbi Hayes has no elder abuse or assault charges against her, as she is a witness if the case goes to trial.

And the other error that admittedly the Sun would not know about was that the woman allegedly given this shot of Risperdal, Louise Zimmerman, the date is incorrect as to when it occurred. (That's a whole other story isn't it DOJ?)

Another thing that is irritating to a reader about an article of this magnitude is the repetitious information which came from last year or the year before. I think if you ask any nurse working in that hospital at the time, not that many work at KVHD now, but they will tell you the repeated mantra about the Ombudsman in 2007, makes people believe it was real.

All that is is a statement from the DOJ report in Feb. 2008, but the information has changed, and the truth is there were complaints early in 2006, all the way thru Jan. of 2007, and they went to Ott, the board of directors, the public health department, the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper, a freelance writer, yes, the state and local ombudsman, social services, and exactly how many other places were these people supposed to go?

That kind of reporting makes for slippery information which can't be backed up with paperwork, only by an ancient, inflammatory statement from the attorney general's office. That's selling cheap information, a second grader could do that with blunt scissors. A cut and paste job.

But as far as winning the race and bringing along a few good facts, and the best picture, the Sun, attempted the job and brought part of it home. ''

What about the timing of this

Though I wish the Sun had gotten a picture of mysterious attorney, Donald Etra, who came on with Dr. Pormir last month, I would love to hear some details about him rather than a press release sort of thing.

Since only two outlets covered the case, as I called the rest, and one called me, I'm assuming the Sun and Bakersfield Now (channel 29 and 58), are the only ones inside on this case.

I'll find out more.

Now, we have three months, and they have finally set up the preliminary hearing date which goes the day after the pre-preliminary where anything can happen and usually does.

But progress has been made, date sets, but what about that June date? (see update)

There are a lot of brides in June, could it be someone is getting married to say, an election bid for governor?

If current AG Jerry Brown goes on to win his parties' backing and go screaming for the mansion, doughnuts on the front lawn, it would be prudent that he prosecute our case since it has gotten so much publicity, right Diane Sawyer. And now, right Cathy Perfect?

But if he looks like a long shot come June, we could see our case dropped like a hot rock.

So, it comes down to politics, not justice.

And hey, Donald Etra, send me a pic, even your facebook pic, i don't care.

Broken News: Elder Case set for preliminary hearings June 22 and June 23; of this year I hope...

Preliminary information has the three defendants in the Kern Valley Healthcare district elder abuse case in court today, and the preliminary hearing is finally set, for late June, when summer school begins.

(Gosh, they have to have summer school, we did well during the regular school year to avoid that very thing)

I'm sure there are more details, and I'll be back later when i find them.

The only regret I have is that I didn't throw on my Nikes and appear in court to find the latest attorney in the case, Donald Etra.

But if this information is correct and the preliminary hearing is set, then we may have a chance to see this case "spilled" in court. I would love it. I would only hope that other witnesses from the hospital would appear, or actually a nice thick subpoena would be delivered to those who thought they could escape their responsibility.

I apologize, as I leap ahead, but I didn't spend the last four years of my life studying, researching, writing to see the culprits skitter under the floorboards to escape.

More later...

California should watch, as Jerry Brown's gangs in Kern County Superior Court, I'm sleeping in though

Should I get up this morning to go to court to see if our infamous elder abuse case is going anywhere, like to court, or jail or just kept in the news long enough for the election year to pass?

Yawn, stretch. I am tired and if I were to drive an hour or even get another poor soul to drive that hour down the rugged mountain road, to see what is going on with our former CE-CE-O, Pam Ott and her criminal case, and nothing happened; why I'd be unhappy.

I wrote a nice card for Jerry Brown tonight with a cheap, but creative software program; I signed it and everything. (I won't send it until his job is done and even acknowledged here in the valley)

Just as I wrapped up that post, with me blathering on about justice again, a news release dropped into my mailbox.

It's late, but it had something to do with Jerry Brown. And that made me put off going to bed, and reading this article.

Christina Jewett of California Watchdog (I might add a very well written, researched and maintained site, I would recommend over my crappola over here. They are a real watchdog site, with credibility. I'm a writer at the end of my rope, but I'm getting the duct tape out, it's good for everything.) wrote a balanced piece about Jerry Brown's Attorney General track record.

Well, I put my feet back up, because I don't think I'll be riding down to Bakersfield in the morning.

No, need to run again, Steve Muni, assistant AG, who ran like a track star as I approached him last year at the Kern County Superior court. I'm going to be sleeping like a baby because I have a clear conscience unlike yourselves.

You did open a can of worms and I'm beginning to believe the worms aren't just ours here in the valley.

I'll give the court and the TV stations a call when I decide to get up, and we will see what the Attorney General has decided to do on this day, March 9, 2010. Another continuance, an agreement? A bargaining session?

After reading this article, I think we might know which way this is going.

Blog Post
Jerry Brown's
office backs off on elder abuse prosecutions
March 9, 2010
Christina
Jewett
Attorney General
Jerry Brown last week announced his bid for governor, and his office didn’t miss
a beat in issuing press releases about his accomplishments as the state’s top
cop.
But a release
issued yesterday about the money recovered by his office’s Medi-Cal Fraud and
Elder Abuse Unit made no mention of another trend in that unit: It has
backed off on filing elder abuse cases.

I would recommend taking a look at this article as well as others regarding Jerry Brown, as California Watch has it's eyes on him.

I'm sure after what has happened in this mountain community first with the lack of security from the Grand Jury, Kern County DA, Public Health, the DOJ, being literally fooled by a shredder and a CEO who ruled with fear including threatening licenses and terminating jobs, has given us a real lesson in politics.

No, loud voices came out of the clouds either, Pollyanna, to save the day.

It is pathetic, it is yours Jerry Brown, and I'll follow you all the way to the Governor's mansion where you will only be visiting once in a while if I have anything to do with it.

I say get demoted and be an investigator, go back into the field. Or at the very least, you should have visited us here in the Kern River Valley.

I suppose you think you'll get out of this and never look back: think again. I've got one up on you Jerry: you don't have a radio station and as far as I know you don't play basketball...

http://www.californiawatch.org/

Good stuff, California watch.

Brown and gang will now be heading over to my election blog, YOUR GOVERNMENT; YOUR PROBLEM: AN OWNER'S MANUAL.

Potable Quotables for $1000 Alex...and Jerry and Diane

Pick a quote

As we approach the next court date in the Kern Valley Healthcare District soap opera, "Specific Hospital" when the new season begins next Tuesday, March 9, nobody here in the valley knows what to expect.

Several mystery pieces to the puzzle should be cleared up. During the end of last season's cliff hanger, former CEO, Ott, who had been given the Martha Stewart treatment as she "came in on her own recognizance" in exchange for respect, no bail necessary, and fashionable clothing rather than an orange jumpsuit.

And Ott's attorney, waved his hand at me dismissing the charges as nothing more than small town gossip. (What do I know)

(I would probably agree that at any other time it was small town gossip, though in this case, it was the gossip that kept Ott's iron's out of the fire, at least until the truth was so damning that even board member, Bob Jamison's now famous attempts at portraying Ott as the "victim" didn't last.)

In Attorney General Jerry Brown's press release that I have on my wall and walk by and give it a kiss each day, there is the paragraph that changed my whole thinking that the AG's office would never "get it" the truth.

Now, we're looking at our watches for March 9, and waiting on the justice. Excerpt from press release DOJ, Feb. 9, 2010.

In addition to today's court victory, BMFEA has investigated and prosecuted
several other notable elder abuse cases in the past year. Late last year in
Sacramento, Maria Elna Flora pleaded guilty to 12 counts of grand theft and
burglary for stealing $435,100 from retirees to fund a daily gambling habit.
In
September 2009, Brown filed charges against Pamela Ott, a Kern Valley
Hospital
administrator, for allowing staff to forcibly administer
psychotropic
medications to patients to sedate them for the staff's
convenience. The case is
pending in Kern County Superior Court.

The first in line for abuse Brown's press release declared, was Mary Louise Wilson, who had a problem setting fires, but nobody died as a consequence of her latent pyromania, as she was a "resident" not an employee or administrator of several nursing homes.

In descending order of elder abuser state gathered "rankings" is the gambler, who couldn't fold them, and began stealing from the elderly to continue her gambling habit. Almost half a million in what? Out of curiosity what might have been at a nursing home that was stolen from residents that could be worth that much?

Usually, there is no jewelry left on, though in certain cases there could be. But what else did she take? Cash laying around is not usually an issue as there is no where to spend it.

Finally, now to Pam Ott, the CEO, nursing home administrator, giving her permission to staff to drug patients in a manner which had not, according to public health records, been done before.

She didn't seem to be looking away and allowing a reportedly highly "irritable" nurse to keep patients quiet so she could think.

Sorry, some of these claims are preposterous. Ott brought in exactly who she thought she needed after getting slammed in the annual inspections for the use of physical restraints and lack of staff leading to patient weight loss and dehydration.

Mary Louise Wilson, got a prison sentence of almost 20 years, for her problem fire bugging the homes she stayed in. And the people were injured and no one was killed.

In Ott's case, I'm wondering about the charges, as the state claims that several people died at KVHD because of the treatments and the lack of proper staffing.

The quotes; the story...
We will soon see what the Department of Justice will do with the case against Ott.
(If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then 9 times out of ten it will.
Paul Harvey)
One of the concerns of many people is how the state is able to even understand this case as the cover up was thicker than Maybelline.
(The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.
Edward R. Murrow)
This situation at the hospital, did not have to happen, and had there been vigilance or even some oversight it well may never have happened.
(This country has far more problems than it deserves and far more solutions than it applies.
Ralph Nader)
Locally, the problem with communication within two small media outlets who rely on the hospital for advertising dollars, was that the coverage became cloudy, and before people knew what was happening, the dust had settled and kicked up once again.
(Multinational corporations do control. They control the politicians. They control the media. They control the pattern of consumption, entertainment, thinking. They're destroying the planet and laying the foundation for violent outbursts and racial division.
Jerry Brown)
Small communities can certainly contribute to the larger picture, but sometimes there are problems in insular type of places such as the KRV, where instead of kicking out the mediocrity, it seems to have moved to protect it.
(Where there is a sufficient social movement of self-reliant communities, there can be political change. There must be political change.
Jerry Brown)
The media in this local area showed it had a difficult time investigating it's home town story of unfortunate proportion. It had what many outlets have, is the question of the truth versus popularity as well as money.
Then there is the sadder tale of the ABC news and Diane Sawyer coming in three years after the fact, and no facts of import added to the story, no corrections made to the story, and this is what we call "journalism."
(I love the early process of asking questions about a story and deciding which questions matter most. Diane Sawyerism
An investigation, may take six months. A quick interview, profile, a day. Diane Sawyer…)
I think we forget that the role of a local politician is just as important if not more important than those of the distant offices in Sacramento and Washington DC. The local politicians know the people, know the region, the history, and the needs, which makes them important to the growth and vitality.
But if we don't vote in the right people, we get situations such as the one's we are currently dealing with in court.
("Sure there are dishonest men in local government. But there are dishonest men in national government too." -Richard M. Nixon)
More to come as the next court date approaches where we will likely meet the "quiet one's," attorney's Donald Etra and Allan Ginsburg, who supposedly have taken over the criminal portion of the Dr. Hoshang Pormir case.

All aboard! The KVHD monthly March meeting preview, let's call it: "we're still here"

A reminder for today, if you happen to have some time this evening to find out what is happening at the Kern Valley Healthcare District, why it's the monthly meeting at 5:30 pm in the hospital cafeteria.

Every month that there is still a meeting means the hospital is still in business, so it's a good thing, the patient is still breathing.

The gossip mills have had a busy week spinning the recent departure or actually ticket still in hand, KVHD, CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, and it's doubtful that we will be allowed an answer that is remotely accurate, but you never know.

Not sure if we will be seeing CEO Tim McGlew as there is a rural health symposium this week he will be attending in Sacramento. Hope to see him soon and find out what he learned from the event dedicated to the issues of rural facilities such as our district.

Bob Jamison, who went missing from small claims court last week where I had hoped we could get some answers from the broadcaster who prefers to hide behind a microphone than to publicly address an issue in the forum it was meant to be used: the board meeting.

I should expect to be able to get good clean answers from people who are "serving" the interests of the community. All of us should.

Sad though that we can't. I haven't been able to get what is needed so that justice can be served, healing can begin. It sure was not an easy goal, and seemed much easier than it has turned out to be.

But what drives me is the example of owning our government. This call for grassroots politics is admirable and has had a desired effect in certain cases, but in others such as what has happened here in the Kern River Valley; complete loss of control and ethical behavior.

In my mind it's now about seeing to what degree, exactly how much time, effort, money, how many people it will take to change these things.

So, it's a March meeting, climb aboard and see the world of local healthcare, tonight at the KVHD hospital in the cafeteria at 5pm.

The public is allowed to speak before the meetings and to ask questions of the material discussed during the meeting. If there are particular issues I suggest that they be addressed at the opening of the meeting.