KVHD board meeting DEC.1: New turn around cash flow on the menu

The Kern Valley Healthcare District Board of Directors will meet for the final gathering of what could be called the "wildest year yet" this Wed. Dec. 1, at 5:30 Pm in the hospital cafeteria.

New board member, David Derr, and returning member, Kathryn Knight, will be sworn in and the agenda has an interesting subject under "new business": turn around cash flow.

Sources say the hospital has already put the chill on salaries and has cut hours and benefits, so it will be interesting to find out which way we are turning, "righty tighty or lefty loosey."

There was a plan

After the loss of Measure G, the hospital had not answered the repeated question from the public, what is plan B?

The financial problems are not new or sudden or anything of that nature. They have been with this hospital for 22 years. I can imagine in 1986 the announcement of the "grand plans" for the expansion of the hospital. They managed to eek out half of the promise, but that mistake still haunts the district to this day.

And the hospital admitting to a plan B, disseminating it at a finance committee meeting, would not allow a copy to be given to me or the public. I can't imagine what they don't want us to see.

They have also been directed to send a plan to Cal Mtg. as well. And the grand jury, complaint driven "review" requires a response within 90 days too. (that complaint/review was not generated by me and not much to write home about either. I know they can do better than that)

Why did we not meet Cal Mtg. in March of 2009?

Chet Beedle has told us many stories over the years, most of them recorded via video, email or documents, but he has not told you why they, CEO Rick Carter, CFO Chet Beedle, board member Bradley Armstrong, stopped what could have been a fruitful meeting with Cal Mtg. more than a year and a half ago.

Heading off problems before they become threats during an election for a tax increase/bail out, would seem to be the responsibility of the management team, administrators and board members.

Nobody acted on anything except to try and halt progress, which they accomplished. In an email from February of this year, Beedle talks of answers and the only one he can see is a GOB. The public had not been told that the hospital had already at this point been using the potential GOB in an effort to obtain a line of credit for one million dollars.

In emails between Beedle and Cal Mtg., Beedle tells the insurer of the "old debt" that they heard good news (this is April 2010) from Caldwell, Winters and Flores regarding a phone survey they did.

Tim McGlew, CEO, said the survey was done for "free" by the bond company which aids in elections and sells the bonds derived from property tax monies. The outcome of the survey was well over the 2/3 majority to win the election. The outcome of the election didn't quite reflect those figures which showed up again in July, as the paid for survey took place, and the public reported repeated calls, and convoluted questions. (We paid $15,000 for that phone survey regardless if the other was free, neither were accurate as people cannot be called a second or third time, and the numbers are easy to move, as it's how the question is asked. Complaints were numerous but fell on deaf ears.)

Regardless of the complaints the board of directors went ahead and put the measure on the ballot based on these surveys, only to have it defeated, and not register any of the numbers provided by CFW.

CFW, also in 2006, even though they were the company selected to run the 12.5 million dollar remake of the acute care wing, donated $7,500 to the campaign.

Where do they think they are going now?

With the last board meeting still causing dyspepsia among the viewers who have seen the video, and simply have been shocked at the behavior, or the most well worn word: arrogant.

It was difficult to watch this board ignore again its responsibility to this community, and the answers were not there. The respect and intelligence was missing as well.

Five months ago, the CEO told the board he would have a date for the strategic planning meeting in a few weeks. Nothing ever came of it. Kern Valley Sun reporter, Susan Barr, asked McGlew if the public was allowed to attend this elusive event.

The CEO and board counsel fell all over themselves explaining the public of course could attend and is encouraged to do so. Unlike the last one in 2008, where Bob Jamsion, the chairman of the board at the time, wrote a document eliminating the public. Only two members went or were notified or allowed, I'm still not sure, and those were insiders, Reverend Charles White of KRVR and former board member and Hospital Foundation volunteer, Chuck Wild.

Though the documentation of the "KVHD story" will be available to the authorities, and stored safely on the internet, I'm going to show you a few things before you head off to the meeting this week.

You're going right?

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.

Don't blame me, I didn't even know about the ABC story: everyone who has read this blog knows I wouldn't have endorsed that crap

Well, thanks Diane Sawyer and ABC news for making my night:

Yes, it was Kern Valley Healthcare District board meeting night, and the phone was ringing off the hook at home as I was trying to get ready to leave for the meeting.

And you want to know who these callers were? They were people who thought I knew or orchestrated the weak, at best, attempt at a story done by ABC "WORLD" news tonight, they have more credibility than the lone blogger.

I'm sorry that anyone would even question it, but no, as I described in a post below, oddly enough, I had to call the television stations to find out what happened, as none of my team made it to the ballpark, and I was hoping for the scoop on what happened in court.

Not strange now, but none of the other stations were in court, and 23 had some interest in "my" interest in the case. But never told me about the Diane Sawyer version that was to come.

If I had known I certainly would have questioned what they were doing. I assumed a local take on the court date, not a retrospective.

Instead, my stepfather, in a different state and time zone caught the news and said our local story had gone national. He didn't elaborate on the story except that he caught a glimpse of the "Jerry's story" soundbite from the attorney general's office where this investigation emenated, and a picture of the hospital in "Lake Isabella." (How it got to Isabella nobody knows, but we do have a penchant for mobile things, homes, mammography, around here.)

So, to clarify, I had nothing to do with this story, and do not condone "using" people to fill a minute of time in a news show. We are not fluff.

If it had been done with some new information, and maybe a touch of class, or even a graphic or two, it may have had the potential to be helpful. Instead the misinformation in the story outweighed any significant assistance the news organization could have actually been to our situation, which I might add continues on.

It's not over, but the only story they ever run is what happened three years ago, within a six month period. And words were used like "intentionally overdosing" patients. Hmm, there seems to be a discrepancy somewhere as there was not an issue of overdosing per say, as there was an issue of the type of drugs used.

But who am I to quibble with such accuracy.

And Pam Ott, the CEO, with the funny credentials, doesn't even get a dishonorable mention. As if she never mistreated families of victims or fired employees who attempted to stop the situation. (That's not interesting at all is it?)

They lost their chance to be effective and helpful.

And they didn't show up for the  meeting. Yes, that's correct the ABC news affiliate in Bakersfield, Channel 23, where the story from last night's ABC elder abuse scare (they could've called it, "slipping mickey's to Grandma" if they wanted to) orginated, did not attend our current meeting.

Umm, what happened? Are we a one night stand? I thought you cared about us, our community. But it seems not. You tell stories we believe you, or at least people outside the situation who know absolutely nothing, believe you.

Anyway, please don't think I did this, it's embarrassing. And I'm sorry I had no time to address this before it happened.

We have more issues to deal with like the board member, who is unfit for his elected position, Bob Jamison, and his saga with using a radio outlet with no competitors to broadcast propaganda about serious health and safety issues at the hospital he was elected to represent in an honest fashion. (That's not interesting either?)

And major issues with our hospital, it's longevity, it's staying power...more to follow.

My puppy, Johnson is sick, but while I sit by his side, I must tell you about something...

Well, it's a pet owner's struggle to not have the pets get sick over the holidays or anytime for that matter, but my new addition, Johnson, is very ill and I am sitting here nursing him, waiting and hoping that he will make it.

I'm covering our pet situation as Johnson is hovering near life and death, likely with Parvo, as the virus is apparently alive and well here in the valley.

However, Walter, my boxer, and the Thanksgiving dinner buzz kill, started the holidays with a blood fest during pie as he ripped his toe nail in two.

But that was just the beginning. I have no idea if Johnson will live or not, the story is on the pet blog. Putting it on the blog was a convenience I might add, as I don't have to call and let everyone know the status, they can just look. Thank you everyone who has been writing and calling for your concern, I will update as things change for the better or worse. (Much like I do with the hospital. I just hope it's a happier ending for Johnson.)

http://krvpetcorner.blogspot.com/

But while I'm waiting and worrying, we need to begin talking about what is happening at the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

The finance committee meeting:

We are basically on a downward spiral right now, and with no accurate projections and a volatile economy, the finances at KVHD are dire at best.

With the recent analysis written by CFO, Chet Beedle, regarding the closure of the retail portion of the pharmacy as an attempt to stop some of the bleeding in the district, it has become apparent now that there are urgent problems.

That particular analysis is being reviewed by another consultant, and as of two days ago was not finished and not available for public viewing.

The first analysis was a comedic attempt to utilize decade old data and blame everyone from the distributor to the employees so that the outlet looked like it needed to be cut out.

We don't need to lose services, we need more services to bring in more money.

They can't keep cutting or there will be nothing left.

Pay your bill: You too KVHD

You provide a service and you collect the fee for the service. That's a general business rule or common sense.

But in healthcare you have other issues which effect that particular hard and fast rule.

Patients who have a serious medical condition must be treated in the ER, by law, whether than can pay or not. (isn't that nice of the government to make us all feel so equal)

With the CFO claiming that more than 30% of the patients are uninsured, cash customers, many without the cash, there is an obvious problem with collections.

But there are programs as we've discussed before that could be used by some of these patients depending upon their financial standing, and all it takes to find out is some information.

Right off the bat the hospital CFO admitted they should do a better job insisting that patients fill out forms which could bring reimbursement to the hospital.

Then there's the back log of collections. Without knowing the particulars, as they are rarely shared, there has been a billing issue and a collection issue, leaving much money unaccounted for.

In another post, I reported that Sierra Kings District, former home of our former, elder abuse charged, CEO, Pam Ott, filed for bankruptcy.

But in their plan to restore their hospital financially, they too, are looking at trying to collect monies owed.

Write off's are great, but they're no good unless you're making money at the same time.

There was mention of putting liens on people's houses and other harsh methods of collection, but I'm not sure that the KVHD wants to push people that far at this point in their shaky reputation.

We are a small community, and these sorts of things get around fast (bloggers, what are you going to do?) and the first elderly person tossed from their home over a KVHD bill, will most certainly be part of our new website where we will be doing video interviews.

But as we have spoken about the pharmacy's situation, Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy, it seems the suppliers of the medications has the same ideas about collections as we are bandying around at KVHD.

A representative from Cardinal Health explained to me that the reason the pharmacy is on a COD basis is simply because KVHD was not paying them. And he said the same thing Chet and the CEO, Tim, had mentioned at the meeting: you provide a service and you want to be paid for it.

KVHD's rob Peter to pay Paul system of accounting, (very bureaucratic chic I might add) is an example of what the cause of the problems are concerning everything at the hospital.

Yes, they need money, but they need to "make" money. And with the bi-polar economy, they are going to have to be on top of it, and play it smart and fast. Something that can't be done because of certain impediments to progress. (certain people)

Remember who you are KVHD

We are a public hospital and we may have to remember that regularly as we seem to forget this is a "service" to this community.

I'm sure it's irregular, but almost twenty years ago I was treated by a doctor and owed him over a thousand dollars because I wasn't insured at the time, but we made another arrangement: we bartered.

(This was in Santa Maria when it wasn't the big suburb of LA; it was a country town with the ability to treat each situation differently, with personal considerations taken into account. Big business and big brother have stomped out the ability to operate that way. But there's always hope)

I've told you on this blog I ran a plumbing business, so what I did was install a furnace in this doctor's rental house, and poof, no more bill.

We have to think outside the box, but we have not seen that here at KVHD yet. We're waiting.

I believe we need to decide who and what the district is to this community it serves.

Are we mere business folk or are we serving the valley, it's issues today and those we could help or hinder for tomorrow? I'd like to know and may have to ask the board and administrators.

There has been no open discussion about cutting top salaries and benefits that I know of, and no furlough days, no personal salary reduction as some Kern County employees did voluntarily early in this recession.

But the staff have taken big cuts, going sometimes from full time, to part time, to per Diem with no benefits.

If I were a KVHD employee, I would think in the back of my mind if I took less so that there would be more to help keep the doors open, I couldn't do it.

Why? Because of the irresponsible way the money has been spent and continues to be spent because of the person in charge of the finances and his two amigo's still left on the board of directors.

So, what will they do?

At the beginning of the meeting, Beedle made a point of telling us that in his comparisons with other "like" facilities, he found that all these other hospitals had general obligation bonds.

What's a GOB? A general obligation bond is paid for by the community with property tax dollars.

And now there are those at the hospital who would like to try and sell us one of these deals and then they would pay off our long term debt.

Gosh, isn't that interesting that I have said that debt is our anchor, and have argued that for years, now do I get credit?

I'm going to tell you something which is the truth, we do not have an adequate tax base, with lower property values, the percentage of property tax dollars going to the hospital is minimal.

It's true the hospital needs help, but much like the bailout fiasco provided by the federal government, they left these same top employees who drained the various corporations of money due to lousy business practices in place to do it all over again with a new pile of money.

We're not going to do that. I promise I will fight tooth and nail any "bail out" scheme which doesn't include a change in management. (it would have to be a reorganization)

No bankruptcy for us: right Cal Mtg.

I made mention again, of the fact that Cal Mtg. who insures our debt, and would have to pay it off if we default, is the only agency in the California government with money right now. They could take the hit, we should have done it ten years ago, and we would probably have a brand new hospital with services doctors and nurses would come from all around to work at.

No, we didn't do that. We were taken over basically by Cal Mtg. in 1999, as the hospital faltered under the debt. High dollar consultants came in and took a lot of money out of here under the guise of helping the hospital.

Back to square one.

In this economy we would be hard put to get this bond in the first place, but there's no way I myself would vote for a bond giving money to the mismanagers who put us in the situation we are in. That would be very stupid.

Next Wed, at 5:30 pm, in the hospital cafeteria is your chance to discuss these issues with both your elected Representatives and the administrators at the regular monthly board meeting.

The past again....

I've been tagged for talking about the past as we are supposedly trying to put it behind us. Gosh, that's true for some things, but it doesn't apply to money.

Everything that has been done to ruin this hospital's finances didn't happen today: it happened over a period of time until we have the situation we have now.

So, at I left off the blog story, with the "pre-McGlew era," and that's where we will start the next post.

Board meeting: don't forget WED. Dec. 2, 5:30 pm in the hospital cafeteria.

Book em' Danno! Or Donno, or I mean, sorry, Donny, Jerry and Steve, our guardians of some California justice

Why not these two?

Now we know if we caught Pam Ott, former CEO of the Kern Valley Healthcare District, charged with eight counts of elder abuse by the state of California, smoking some marijuana, she would be in jail, on "bail" in a jumpsuit, being cursed by board member, and media non-personality, Bob Jamison.

But, because it was a matter of governance, or lack thereof, we seem to have forgiven those who allowed a situation to occur in a hospital and nursing center which may have lead to the demise of residents who knew nothing of the politics which played a role in their care.

I was looking through the California Penal code, for the fun of it, a week or so ago as there are so many laws on the books which could be applied in our case here at KVHD. I sit here this fine Friday afternoon, late for appointments, wondering why there are not at least two more defendants for next week.

We know that there are documents that pertain to the responsibilities of those in charge of the nursing center or any nursing home. The administrator, the leader, is the top dog, according to the district policy and the laws of the state of California.

That should not be questioned.

But our administrator also had a second in command, who knew very well, what was going on. Ott even pointed that finger early in 2006, when Department of Health Services or "Public Health" (thank you, I'm scared already) questioned Ott's credentials.

As has been pointed out on this blog, which has reached an unmanagable 200 posts, (wow, let's celebrate! It took 200 blogs to explain this situation, but only one jury can send the message home) that Ott had help in the cover up.

Let's see the CNO of the time, she definitely knew; the CFO, Chet Beedle, who recently made fools of the board and current administration with his pharmacy analysis, was cutting out more jobs than the mortgage industry, which made for big gaping holes in the staffing, he knew.

And board members, Bob Jamison, Brad Armstrong, and Barbara Casas were either covering for the "leadership lite" administrative nightmare, or they were duped like most of us.

Either way, it's still malfeasance. They should have looked at the records, stopped the cover up, but they, instead, helped Miss Ott out of the "country" off to her new position at Sierra Kings District Hospital which has now met with trials and tribulations under her leadership. They are bankrupting their hospital. (we're just killing our business little by little here at the hands of a CFO, but, let's keep him, pay him, and allow him to continue down this path of fiduciary suicide)

But the CFO, was right in the middle of all of this, taking out personal personnel information to try and keep the employees in their places.

(Yes, we're going to have another holocaust blog for Monday. The first one didn't work out as I was straight out of surgery trying to write it, but now, I'm ready. Are you ready for Mien KVHD?)

How is it that other employees were fired for lesser issues, but, again, the administration gets a break?

Now, the former CNO, who currently works in quality control and the cardiac arrest her departments which were created out of scratch, those medicines off the charts, needs to be addressed in a courtroom.

Thelma and Louise of the SNF, Ott and Sharon Brucker, read reports to the board throughout 2006, with such concern as, "whoops" our patients lost 25 pounds, yes, we need to start weighing them. But only when we can find a way to bring them out without restraints.

Brucker the former CNO, was seen in court last month though, in the audience unfortunately, as Ott took a few minutes to show up and plead not guilty at all, what are you talking about, to the elder abuse charges.

Ott didn't have to post bail, it was all quite streamlined for her, so I asked the Department of Justice, (several times in fact) why she was treated with this "fast track" method of justice.

I have not received a suitable answer or actually any answer. It's not a rhetorical or hysterical question, Scott Gerber, bad boy of PR: I was serious: why would you treat her that way after the evidence shows she had no regard for anyone else, employees, residents of the SNF, or the law itself?

Come on DOJ, serve the "loco" motion

As I said, there are so many laws on the books which could easily be used in this case to make sure, double check, that we got all the people out of there who need to be made an example of for the rest.

Would it be crazy to press these charges? I don't think so. I'm quite certain that even though the DOJ's investigation was late, like me, and the evidence was shredded, and the tapes were lost, (though there were some other tapes made by Ott, which I'm wondering if they have been turned over to the DOJ) there is still evidence.

Maybe you can't get them all on elder abuse charges, but there are other lesser charges, easier to prove that would at least get them out of the hospital so they can't do any more damage. And maybe then, we can heal this place.

But we need felonies as the hospital does not rehire those with felonies on their record.

And you need to take the board members too. Do not let them think they can do this without some sort of slap on the wrist or fanny or something. They knew what was going on: Bob, Brad and Barbara, "the killer B's."

However, politics played a big role in all of this, but the unfortunate element was the residents: they didn't get a vote, on measure M, their staffing, or the drugs a certain nursing director decided to use.

They didn't have a choice, but we do

The residents of the Kern Valley Healthcare District skilled nursing facility didn't know the staffing was cut because there was a need to save money. They didn't know that when they rang their call lights, busy nurses were doing all they could just to keep up with the heavy load dumped on them in 2006 KVHD budget.

The residents also didn't know why the people they had come to love and care about, the nurse's aides, who were pushed beyond the call of duty, were helpless to stop the people at the top. The aides were threatened with licenses and forced to work overtime, and more overtime, sick or well, they had to come in or the nursing center would close.

The residents also did not know why the board of directors so coyly turned away from the employees who tried to blow the damn whistle, but only air and fear came out.

They didn't deserve the disrespect nor did they have any idea what was really going on around them which would lead to such a disaster.

And the families of the residents, how do they feel?

We are now on a new course at the skilled nursing facility, one with more compassion, "more staff", customer service, renewed research into better systems, and a new CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, who is monitoring the situation.

Our new CEO, Tim McGlew, has added a new element as he had the insurance liability carrier, Betagroup, do a risk assessment of the nursing center.

Though we are paying attention now, there was a serious problem for the families who feared for their loved ones in the SNF.

From all the information I have heard and seen, the families had to fight to get information and paperwork. (Yes, the paperwork was delayed, how convenient)

But along with that, they were treated as if they were simple "complainers" in some cases, by the CEO, Ott and even mentioned was CFO, Chet Beedle, whom I accused of this behavior at a recent meeting.

How could the families even watch the video of Bob Jamison calling the tragedy at KVHD, Pam Ott's resignation? I'm sure they felt great that Jamison followed it up by allowing Ott a full hour of radio time to propagate her agenda.

(See posts: Here's your witness Jerry Brown and "Hey Tokyo Rose, where's your Kimono?)

But now we, and I mean the government, the lawyers, the families of victims, the staff, the staff who were fired, the whistleblowers, have to come together and get the truth out there for those who want it, and more so, those who need it to move on from this mess.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, the State of California has sufficient evidence to prove that Pam Ott, the spy, the media attack, the buffer, the number's guy, were part of a cover up of crimes against the residents of the hospital, but not only that, crimes against a community.

Again, we thank you for coming to be our jurors, and we know you will see through the facade, the collusion, to bring the leaders, the corporate administrators and elected board members, to justice for their roles in harming the public and obstructing the investigation.

We know you will be fair and impartial as you hear all the testimony of witnesses and victims of a case which lead to abusing elderly patients for the sake of saving money, (to pay Cal Mtg. I would say that, but they won't), and by the leaders who tried to cover their tracks and scapegoat the little guys. It could have been you, Jane or John juror, you could have been threatened with your job or fired, by an entrenched system of bullying and scapegoating."

That's how I would open my case...You have all that you need to convince a jury full of average folks who probably would not take kindly to hearing about high level, heavily reimbursed, bosses at a public healthcare district who allowed and even prolonged potential elder abuse.

I don't see any problems getting that message across to a jury. Feel free to utilize my little blog here and I've got many other bits of evidence around here at home too. Let's do lunch, then do KVHD...

(I'm trying very hard not to blow a fuse with the uploading problems with the video for Youtube. After three hours on Verizon's DSL, or supposed high speed internet, I managed to load one video last night. It's Chet Beedle though, and you should watch. I don't know what the problem is, maybe I'm competing with Jerry Brown throwing up all his gubernatorial campaign videos on Youtube...I dont' know. I'm still trying though. Aren't I?)