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.

Rumor true: Kern Valley Healthcare District CCO, Cynthia Burciaga resigns under strange circumstances

KVHD CCO did she want to go?

Pictured below, Cynthia Burciaga, at last month's board meeting giving the community the bad news that the hospital needs money and has to have money to continue operations and services to the community.

Burciaga, has been giving reports to the community since she began her job with the district last year, hired on by former CEO, Rick Carter. The CCO and the current CEO were hired around the same time, but were not brought on together.

However, it always appeared that the new CEO, Tim McGlew, and Burciaga, were a working unit, as McGlew constantly lauded the CCO with praise thanking her for her hard work in the skilled nursing facility and allowing her extended reports about difficult subjects such as the pharmacy situation. Burciaga gave detailed reports on staffing, her involvement with the pharmacy, and introduced us to a new Director of Nursing for the nursing facility, who lasted less than two months in the position.

What is happening at KVHD human resources?

And what happened that a CCO, who has been praised by both the CEO and CFO, Chet Beedle, as doing a great job changing the systems, and being available to work as a nurse in the nursing center, when there is a shortage?

Information has come in which needs to be researched regarding other matters related to the hospital, but right now there are more questions than answers involving the circumstances surrounding the departure of Burciaga.

Some witnesses to an event have told me there may have just been a misunderstanding that could have been resolved with the hospital's "open door policy." The open door policy implies that employees can come forward with problems straight to the CEO, without any prejudice, but more of mediation. As to the validity of this claim, we will have to find out.

I'm sure the administration will give us the whole story soon.

In the picture below, Burciaga introduces the new Director of Nursing last year who was employed less than a couple of months, and of course, because of "privacy" restrictions on the information of employees, no explanation was given for his short stay at KVHD.

Then when I questioned the short duration of employment, and asked about a replacement, I was told, that Burciaga was now the Director of Nursing too with an assistant in the SNF. So, both CCO, DON, and messenger to the community, it would seem the hospital lost several employees in one.

Burciaga who sits next to Controller, Barbara Figeuroa at the board meetings, will be absent from her regular spot at the meetings, and I'm sure we will be updated (well, I'm not sure, but I hope the community will be informed properly) as to the process of replacing the multipurpose nurse, and if there will be a CCO and DON or how this will now be organized.

Though rumors abound, we have solid information that a resignation was submitted, then rescinded, and finally a decision by the CEO, will likely lead to the departure of the CCO. As soon as we get complete information on this, I will report.

The Kern Valley Healthcare Board of Directors will have their monthly meeting this week, Wed. March 3, at 5:30 pm in the hospital cafeteria.