KVHD update: flashback to mammography, ECHO, time frame, ACHD who would lobby?

Kern Valley Healthcare District Controller, Barbara Figueroa, shown here, at the February board of directors meeting. Figueroa shows a lot of control during meetings, rarely saying more than is necessary, such as during the finance committee meetings, where she reports on the contracts and contractors who move through and sometimes over the hospital.
Victoria Alwin, the newly elected Chairwoman of the board, now leading board, sits next to Dr. Robert Gross, DO, who is now the treasurer, ask questions of financial manager, Chet Beedle, who has repeatedly changed the story on the financial position of the district in the last year.

Beedle has gone from projecting moderate losses last year, to vilifying the community for going to the Emergency room for things that are less than emergent, like colds and coughs.

I asked Beedle why collections on a three year old bill for $8.10 went out to the community recently. He argued that we have to collect all the money we can.

But we all know that should have been done three years ago.

Tim McGlew, our new CEO, can say he was not here during the strenuous and crime filled times, but Beedle cannot.

He has been here for a long time. Now I would like to know what sort of report of his performance is being done?

Or did we do that three years ago, and don't want to spend the money to quantify the value of our financial program?

As I pointed out in the article regarding the Sierra Kings District launching it's attempt to get money out of a failed collections department, created a 40% and you're off the hook plan just to try and get as much money as possible.

Sandy Haskins, interim CEO for Sierra Kings, a much beleaguered rural healthcare district like our own (even had former CEO Pam Ott) came from a consultant firm called HFS and they have been working to bring in all the past collections.

We have yet to see or hear of anything like that going on at KVHD. We have yet to hear these kinds of things, called public information.

I'm asking for a complete screening of our financial department, which may cost money, but then could save money too if it began to run efficiently.

Kay Knight listens intently as questions regarding the costs of the hospital's annual trips to ACHD, Association of California healthcare Districts, which lobbies on behalf of rural and small hospitals.
There was a quote by a reporter that the costs for the ACHD meetings are over priced in this bleak economy. The quote was attributed to Marge Swendleson in the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper yesterday.

Now, let me ask, who is lobbying for this hospital? Bob Jamison? Brad Armstrong? Are they making trips to Sacramento with new ideas for the legislature? Are they writing letters to their representatives asking for grants to upgrade our equipment?

I'd say no is your answer there folks.

Check out ACHD website if you read the quotation out of the newspaper which is not actually a "local" paper. In fact, they are a corporation out of Arizona.

So, shop local. (as they like to say around here, not me, I don't say that. Others do though.)

Well, it was a real deal for Cimarron Cynthia as she came on board for the charity run helping the ECHO (Exploring Careers in Healthcare Occupations) program which is being hit by budget cuts and maybe even a misunderstanding of what this program is about, and other programs like it.

I'll begin by saying this program begins at the High School level and many of the students graduate having a job already at the hospital. They have reached a level of education that qualifies them as a nurse's aide once they transfer to Cerro Coso, where they can qualify as a nurse's aide or EMT.

For many students it's the beginning of a career in healthcare and for some that is as far as they go, using the experience to work while they pursue another career.

But many students get motivated and after working a few years as an aide or EMT, they move on to other specialized courses, possibly a higher level of nursing such as LVN or even an RN. Others go into management. (Uhum, yes they do)

It's an opportunity for younger students to get a head start on a career or even just higher level employment, but it could be lost in the strangulation that's taking place in education.

Cynthia Burciaga, a Texan I hear, had a group throwing pies for cash, and raised a bucketful of dough, where some will land right in the ECHO, echo, echo, program and the rotary club.

Burciaga, who has been working long hours as Chief Clinical Officer and Director of Nursing in the skilled nursing facility, added charity to her list of many things to do. She was talked into it by one of the mangiest, volunteer wranglers in the valley, Miss Jeanette Rogers.

Rogers will be wrangling us all up for the Heart walk coming up next week, where we will be required to exercise until it hurts our pocketbooks. And the money will go to the hospital where it will be used for...(still waiting on that answer)

During her time as regular Cynthia "the overworked" she has been plagued by worries from a community which never heard the truth nor an apology for what has happened in the nursing center, with the employees, the pharmacy and financially.

But we have a different situation there now, and it would nice if the media looked at the hospital in a fair way which would allow us to understand these mistakes happened in the past and a few new administrators and staff are working on trying to get things in order.

The quote of the night by Burciaga regarding bringing in new services: "We have to work on getting one thing right before we move on to other services."

Bravo, the reality check. Good to hear it.

Finally, kudos go out to the winners of employees of the year. They won a Canadian health insurance plan and a pie in the face.

Not really....

The 2009 Employees of the Year are:
Clinical Services – Colleen Brun, RN, Emergency Department
Support Services – Monica Spradling, Housekeeping
Manager of the Year – Mike Miller, Plant Operations Manager
Each of the individuals above received a check for $100.00 and a 4-day cruise to Baja Mexico. (And none have returned. Hmm?)

And finally, yes, here's an answer to the mammography question and my response: When the mammography unit was purchased, the Foundation purchased a used motorhome to house the mammo unit in an effort to make it a ‘mobile’ unit. That never really worked. The story that I got was that there were problems with the unit being mobile and the need to re-calibrate each time the unit was moved. Anyway, the motorhome was recently donated back to the Foundation who did indeed sell it. The mammography unit was not sold.
My response: I have heard about the mammography situation, but was told so many different stories I never understood. Now, I had heard about the unit being mobile, therefore requiring calibration, but really, did they have to move it once it was understood this would happen each time?
And the second story, more feasible, was that there was not enough patients to warrant keeping a tech full time. Again, that doesn't necessarily hold water or saline, as there could have simply been times where a tech was available, like anything else.
Then there was a shortage of techs, and on and on.

Now, I have to ask a few obvious questions regarding the situation. Okay, we let this sit idle for whatever number of years, and I'm assuming that there would be some missed out upgrades, so is the unit ready to be housed in a unit, room, where it can be used? We don't have dialysis, but we could have mammography in a jiffy.

See if the hospital suddenly starts using the equipment, drops a grand or two to make it go rrrrrr again, and has a tech in there part time running the thing, it's going to look bad, but at least something will occur which could make quite a bit of money. Equipment sitting around not making money. Much like the lull with the heart equipment. The foundation had that purchased and gathering dust pretty fast.

Question, is there anyway for me to just look at the paperwork surrounding the purchase of the unit and the type of unit it is? And who serviced the unit? And how did the mammography department do in the numbers? Did we write off, depreciate, or recalibrate the numbers?

Surprising there has been a lot of women pushing me to get this answer. None of the answers made sense to them and I have to agree.

I'll let you all know what I find out, finally...

Waiting for the world to change...I'm using the express lane

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living."
Mother Jones

I guess this could be called a memorial for the fallen employees of KVHD. And most certainly for the people who trusted the hospital with their care and care for their loved ones.
Some employees just left before the gunshots were heard when former CEO, and main conspirator in the skilled nursing facility fiasco, Pam Ott resigned in May of 2007.
Ott knew she was cornered, the emails were flying, the Kern Valley Revitalization forum was rocking, and requested SNF manuals were flung out the CEO's door at me. (Whizzing just past my head I might add. Remember that Heidi?)
The newspaper was being pressured, as I was demanding information and answers from an arrogant "public healthcare district" not used to being put on the spot.

I told Ott, "I've got so many knives in my back, all you're hitting is metal," as she took shot after shot at me. The new mantra was that I was trying to take down the district. Just like the Knights.
Funny thing, people were biting on that crap like hungry trout.

Little did I know they were willing to sink to any level to protect themselves...
Well, she and the rest of her gang, took the biggest and best shot at me they could, right through the heart: the employees who knew me or about the SNF were fired, abused, mislead; and I cracked.
The day I took that missile they knew they had me. I dropped hard to the floor: the thud could be heard around the valley.
I cared about all the people who were helping in the initial investigation, who were taking care of their families, just trying to do their job, and these criminals didn't give a damn about anyone but themselves. It was the most dismal display of cover your own ass I have ever seen.
The shock of learning in the first place that people I thought I could trust were the very slime which was and is the rotten core of KVHD was tough enough. Then watching from the floor as they walked all over everyone, scapegoating as they went along, I knew I had to get back up, somehow.

There is a ninth inning, and I'm now up at bat. And I've got my Louisville Slugger with me. And I'm a great curveball hitter now too.
Before I came back in the game I made sure that everyone on my team never admitted to knowing me, liking me, or certainly talking to me.
(Actually, Chet Beedle, CFO, had the employees certain they were next on the hit list if they talked to me or about me. My wounds were not tended in the emergency room out of employee paranoia. I don't blame them, they were just trying to keep their jobs in a town where the hospital rates as number one employer.)
People in the community who have been my supporters were equally warned by me not to admit to knowing the likes of me. That way I get good information about what is really being said and going on. And I had to make sure I was covered and nobody got hurt, again.
Now, there's no more fooling around. Let me explain.
That's it!
When my parrot is out roaming she often finds some way to get into trouble. I correct her only so many times before the final words, "that's it."
She knows immediately I'm completely serious and her bad deeds will now come to an end: she gets a time out in her cage.
So, I'm telling you Beedle/Ott gang, I'm done correcting, "that's it."
If anyone thinks I'm not serious then you will be sideswiped. This last meeting was only a small taste of what I'm capable of and now you're going to have to just guess what's coming next.

And Pam Ott I'm not done with you either. I'll see you in court and hopefully at your own trial.
Our government oversight officials shouldn't count out some face time with me as I'm tired of writing and asking them to do what they are supposed to be doing. We will bring our cameras with us too. Pictures are just plain fun.

Don't forget this is a public healthcare district, and I plan on giving it back to the public, warts and all. (Former board member, JoAnn Jones, angry with me, said in an email: why don't you just use a match and burn it down. (The hospital.) JoAnn, did you not know about the advent of lighters? And I will use mine to light the fireworks only; ooh, pretty.)
First you clean the wound then you stitch it up otherwise you've got a puss problem. KVHD has a puss problem.
Does the new leadership have the back bone for this? There's some heavy lifting required.
People say, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and the grand canyon took years of natural erosion to create. I say, Rome was a "Pre-fab" and the grand canyon took a week with a Catepiller tractor.
I know there are so many of you out there "waiting for the world to change." I'm here to tell you I'm tired of waiting...

How to save journalism article timely and snippet from KVHD board meeting....

I happen to see a small paper, the Community Alliance, out of Fresno, and there isn't anything provocative or even high tech about the little black and white "free" paper, but the article on the front page caught my attention.

The article which actually was taken from the nation http://www.thenation.com/. The title is what caught my eye: "How to save Journalism."

If you get a chance this morning with your cup of coffee, take a read about what you read, and think about it more.

Nobody is going to convince me that there was a golden age of journalism where it wasn't "used" by one person or another for campaigns or money making ventures, but it can certainly be criticized for taking itself seriously these days.

Just becuase you can put up two hundred televisions on a wall, and look emotionally at each and every one of them, doesn't mean you are diseminating the news in a manner which helps anyone.

Plane goes down, thirty people are hurt, hundreds dead, and we have broadcasters crying it out on television. Help me out here, but did you know any of these people?

The job would be to get pertinent information to families of the victims, not start the wake before anyone has died.

Open up the community alliance, http://www.fresnoalliance.com/ and take a read just to provoke thought on these matters.

If you were completely interested in the topic, there is a professor, Michael Parenti, I believe he's still at Berkely, not sure, but he wrote some wonderful, scathing, but informative books on the relationship between politics and the mass media.

And here's another article with the ABC in it; I've been really reading about the sinking ship called the evening news, and have actually turned on the television which I don't like, and watched some old time news.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100305/OPINION12/3050321/1002/OPINION/As-networks-chased-profits-news-product-suffered

And now a hospital board snippet

Yes, I missed the board meeting as I struggled with a dead battery in my camera at 5:30, I knew it was not going to happen.

The news that has come to me so far has been that CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, attended the meeting and spoke during the public portion of the meeting, "the three minute warning."

Burciaga, had quite a few things to say such as that she had resigned because of personal issues, was supposedly ignored for two days before she could get an appointment with the "open door policy" the CEO, Tim McGlew.

McGlew refuted a few things that Burciaga said, but was generally quiet as she explained she had wanted to work in the ER. She said she is unable to do this because she, and we are not clear on this, may or may not have threatened a "grievance" procedure against two people, and one a board member.

We have heard the 20 plus year, board member, Brad Armstrong the trustee who voted to sink the hospital with debt in the 1980's, and was around for other ruinous mistakes such as the hiring of elder abuse charged former CEO, Pam Ott, and the prolonged problems in the nursing facility which were not policed by the hospital's own elected officials.

As board member, Bob Jamison likes to say, "stuck on stupid," these mistakes have been repeated and some still are.

There was no reporter or obvious support shown from the board for Burciaga, who wanted to work in the ER, and still wants to work at the hospital, but because of the technicalities with the grievance procedure, she will likely have to move on, unless the board works something out with her.

Armstrong at several meetings last year, and at one famous meeting in 2007, has talked about this "grievance procedure" and said it works, but the employees somehow don't' know how to use it, even though it it laid out in the manuals at the hospital.

Without going into detail, I have video of Armstrong's explanation of this employee policy and it does not match what is in the employee handbook.

It seems at this time, it is the community who is wondering what happened to Burciaga, and only time will tell if there is more to this story than is apparent at the moment.

Just finishing up her role as fundraiser for Whiskey Flats, Burciaga played the role of "Cimaron Cynthia" raising money for charity, and she said in her speech she would be forever, "Cimaron Cynthia."

We will dig a little deeper and see what we find, as people are inquiring as to what happened. I'm getting the impression people are thinking "cover up" ... Again.

Grand re-opening of the pharmacy...Board of Directors hold doors open

November meeting KVHD Board of Directors:

They looked out over the audience and wondered "who are these people?"

The KVHD board of directors, not used to seeing traffic to the microphone, were inundated with comments regarding the Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy.

Now known by me, as the Kern Valley Public thrift store District, as the thrift store is supply many of the upgrades being done throughout the hospital.

The "jewel" of the district, according to Chet Beedle, KVHD CFO, is the Rural Health Clinic, making money, and getting new equipment, and I've heard there's even new cabinets. Wow, that will make them better over there (complete sarcasm here in case you think I'm being serious).

I don't know how that's going to help the services, but we are obviously pushing money over there, while the pharmacy sees cuts in staffing and no plan for bringing the pharmacy back in black.

But the public wanted to know why. Yes, telling them it's staying open is one thing, supplying the products, the customer service, that's a whole other story...

KVHD Board Chairwoman, Kay Knight, last month haulted the closure of the pharmacy, as she and three other board members voted to look again at the financial figures, citing the importance to having access to prescriptions on the south side of the lake.

As board members heard the sounds of voices, more than one, mine, at the last meeting. The importance of taking care of people here in the valley was the talk of the meeting. Victoria Alwin, Secretary of the board, pictured here, to the left.

Dr. Robert Gross, DO, look left, handled most of the questions regarding medications being asked by some audience members. Dr. Gross was thanked by an audience member for helping out in a situation where she could not get another doctor to listen.

CEO, Tim McGlew, pictured here trying to talk over a snoaring Bob Jamison, who made his point to shut down the pharmacy at the Oct. meeting, McGlew announced that they will give the pharmacy another try.

But what are we going to try and do? Just see what happens or get some of the money going to rural hellth clinic and move it into the pharmacy, that's what I would do.

Jamison is on the radio right now, "buy local." Well that's what we're going to have to do now. Shop local at the pharmacy if you're over here on the south side, make sure to stop by.

(Bob are you going to buy local. BOBBBBB????)

Today at Finance Commit me: Think of yourself not as a charity case, but a "write off"

Well, as usual, I was running late, and I had no where to put my new tiny dog, Johnson. I had to feed the cat, the dogs, wake the Macaw, get the temperature right in the house, close her door, and then throw on a happy face, and skidoodle out the door.

So, Johnson, our new arrival, playmate for my Boxer, Walter, had to go to the meeting. I hid him in my coat, thinking nobody would notice and maybe attribute the movement in my jacket to a gastrointestinally troublesome bowl of chili.

But not.

That new CCO, Cynthia Burciaga, busted me with my illegal cargo.

I explained I didn't have a babysitter this morning, and it would be too dangerous to leave him understaffed, I mean, alone at home, and then Miss Burciaga cut me a break and let the little Johnson stay for the meeting.

Johnson slept through the meeting, which is usually what I want to do, but there was something about this month's meeting that was different.

We were talking about the "real" problems, such as we don't have money, staff or money to put away for our true friends at Cal Mtg.

Stopping the leaks

One of the areas of concern is the fact that the hospital treats people who have no insurance or money, which is by law what they have to do.

With so many people out of work and struggling, there is an increase in need for services without insurance.

Now, that is fine. If you are sick, don't hurt yourself by not seeking medical care and don't think of yourself as a "charity case."

One of the most damaging psychological problems is when people lose their jobs and are unable to support their families. Men tend to be more difficult to get to go be treated by a doctor anyway: and they sure don't like it if they can't pay for it.

Here's the deal, if you don't have insurance, your life has become like so many across the country, you don't have money for anything extra, but you may qualify for some of what they call the "charity programs."

I don't like the word either, and I think since the hospital is complaining, that they would euphemize the word, and call it something like, "payment protection programs."

All this says is that you are signing forms so that the hospital may bill one of the many indigent (here's another great word that should make you feel good about yourself) programs available through the state.

If you can't do sliding scale which is available, then you may be eligible for one of many programs.

When you get treatment and don't fill out this paperwork you are costing the hospital money; you're now featured in the bad debt section of the financials.

But before you come down to the hospital, grab your proof of income and residence, and fill out the forms.

This way the hospital will be paid through the state, you will get your medical treatment, and it will not be a bad debt that goes on "your credit report" too.

Running back, Quarterback, and tight end/multi-purpose team

We've been talking about the staffing issues for a loooonnnnngggg time now, and I've heard many different things from different voices at the hospital.

We spoke again about: having multi-purpose staff who are trained in several areas and work in several areas; the great CNA (nurse's aide) educational jump, as many of the nurses have decided to upgrade their education and are in LVN (the next stop on the nursing journey) school; and that the CCO has been coming in when the staffing is tentative.

Two comments here, one that we still have a problem, but the second part that our administrator is willing to come in when there is a shortage and work whatever role necessary.

Kudos to you Cynthia.

Yeah, it doesn't make me necessarily feel better that she has to do this, that a solution hasn't been pinpointed, but it does make me and all of us, should realize that somebody is going above and beyond their call of duty. And we thank her.

(I'm guessing that is why our new CEO, Tim McGlew, wasn't present at Finance. He was actually fixing the sprinklers and removing trays from the kitchen. He's strong, he can carry a lot of trays.)

Where are we going: where have we been

The community needs new services, but so does the hospital so it can make money.

Bandaids are not big money makers.

There was a whole list of services bandied about yesterday, which included orthopedic surgeons, cardiac services, wound care specialists for the nursing center, as well as a lot more dreaming, but it felt short of planning.

Yes, I would wish this for all of us, my list includes oncology and chemotherapy, and cardiac services, as well as endocrinology, Ear nose and throat (they'd make a fortune there with all the allergies we suffer up here from the lake bed blowing in the wind, and winter with all its wood burning stoves), eye/cataract, Gynecological, oh, yeah, and mammogram.

(Yes, we did have a mammogram machine, but apparently, we had no one to run it. Then we advertised it, then we sold it. We're a bunch of boobs)

There is a shortage of ortho's anyway, so that is a pipe dream. But I had an appointment with my endocrinologist yesterday, which took me off my mountain and down into the city. I spent 30 minutes, we talked, read my records, wished me good luck, and off I went.

That was not worth the trip down. We could have done it by phone. It wasn't worth the gas money, nor the chronic risk of the canyon. I like the doctor. In fact, he's spectacular when it comes to doctors, but it's the drive.

All I ever think about is retired and elderly people going down the canyon trying to get services. And certainly, with age comes more doctor visits, so how many times are these people going down the canyon to get care?

The hospital should wonder about that too.

I say use your strength's right now to make money. I'll say it first here on the blog: From everything I've heard we have a great physical therapy department. They do things that others don't.

If you need physical therapy and you don't have insurance, don't forget there is a sliding scale program.

My impression of all of this talking, was there is no plan in effect, we are just dealing with issues randomly without an outline of the reasonableness of the solutions, with no fixed goals figured.

But that has been a problem for a long time, don't let me tell you it just came up yesterday.

I have all the paperwork from the strategy meeting from 2006. There were tremendous goals back then and each KVHD board member had a task to do to accomplish these things. Great!

Never happened. Not one of those things. I looked through it. In fact we've come way backward.

We need planning and development with input from the community. The hospital should spend a few bucks, throw an open house and let the community know what there is to offer. (They could call it, "a penny for your thoughts.")

Again, we have "great" physical therapists.

Which side of the lake you live on

As we were discussing the pharmacy issue, which they want to tell you about. I'm glad, I don't want to tell you about it. So you might want to show up for the October regular board meeting, Wed. Oct. 7, at 5:30 pm in the Cafeteria.

(You've been alerted, there's a board meeting. If you don't attend, whatever happens, you cannot complain about. My new rule.)

Anyway, in this conversation something was said that has bothered me all night.

And that is that the "reality" of our positions of life and stature in this valley depend on which side of the lake we live on.

As if I were going to agree, it was said that "we all know" (common knowledge) that the money and power structure is greater on the Kernville side of town.

Oh gag.

Not that it isn't true to some degree. Yes, they do have money over there, the housing is quite nice, the shade trees, high speed internet, the business center, why it's a veritable Camelot.

Now here on the South Lake side, we don't have high speed internet, our phone service is a joke, we have a grocery store we're proud of, but we are the local lesser people I guess according to the common knowledge.

The context of this conversation came when we were discussing the pharmacy in Kernville, "The Drug store."

It makes money, but this poor side of the lake, can't do it.

Our low real estate values and apparently low human values, make this side of the lake less appealing to business and those providing services.

I'm actually glad to hear this out in the open so I can respond properly.

Listen, the whole valley is what has been called, "the ugly stepsister" of the county. One suburb of Orange County could buy this whole place, fishing permits and all.

But that is where I find the problems in that there are those who came to this valley in hopes of being that big fish in this little pond.

Next up: Scared and impaired

More on this soon, gotta go...

"Quaff oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore." (Poe, The Raven)

Yes, archaic title, yet meaningful, but I wanted to let you know that we are working right now on the story of the meeting, pictures and all. Really, we are. Later. No, now.

Here's your preview:

Pink Ladies tell new CEO and CCO, that they have issues with the kind of use of volunteers in the skilled nursing facility. They said they complained to the former SNF administrator and former CEO, Rick Carter, for more than a year, but were never heard.

Board member, Brad Armstrong, suggested a "liaison" between the new CEO and Pink Ladies once a month.

However, CEO, Tim Mcglew, tells the Pink Ladies, he needs to hear about any problems, immediately, not a month from now.

(That's what we need to hear from the new administration. I will elaborate on the fact that Armstrong was alerted early as chairman of the board in 2006 of serious problems in the nursing facility, but never acted.)

And the pharmacy has become a bitter pill to swallow, as CFO Chet Beedle, explains the our pill dispensing outlet, Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy, is on a COD basis with the wholesaler.

Both Beedle and McGlew explained that the pharmacy will stay open, but people might want to call first as certain prescriptions may not be available immediately, or even at all.

I will elaborate and get some feedback from our other local pharmacies as well.

Our new Chief Clinical Officer, Cynthia Burciagagammallamamcschmidt, (sorry, I couldn't help it, I read the Kern Valley Sun) Cynthia Burciaga, has apparently dove in feet first into the skilled nursing center as the former consultants, including Nursing Home Administrator, Tracy Brown, sped off two weeks ago without notice.

Burciaga's report was extensive as many changes are being considered and new projects are starting up for the residents. More details...

McGlew, who will now be in charge of both hospital and SNF, said he is bringing in Beta group to take a look at the way the nursing facility is being run and to make suggestions, which will not cost the hospital money, as the company has an interest as they provide the hospital insurance coverage.

The CEO said he wanted another "set of eyes" to look at things in the much maligned nursing facility.

I'll try again to reach Beta group and get some general feedback, but honestly, I think I made them angry as I have complained bitterly that Dr. Pormir and Debbi Hayes were not insured when they were indicted by the state for problems with the SNF.

Though the board voted to insure the two long time employees, the insurance carrier would not pay for their legal costs because the indictments are criminal. (But former CEO, Pam Ott, only cited in a civil case, has the backing of the company. I don't know, I think my concern here is legitimate, and we will be getting more into this as the preliminary hearings begin this month in the criminal trials. Our camera will be there.)

On a promising, positive note, there is definite improvement in the way the administration has acted to the public, allowing questions and comments, and speaking directly of transparency due a public entity, such as the Kern Valley Healthcare District. Kudos.

The rest of the story and pics to come soon, later, tomorrow. I'm hungry, I'm going to get something to eat. I mean, I'm hungry for work, let me go back to it.

Shock and Awe campaign: first pix of meeting

Oh, god, here she comes...she's really going to do it...



It wasn't pretty, it wasn't pleasant, but sometimes you have to say it to their faces. Dr. Gross and Kay Knight look on as Bob Jamison is chastised, soundly.
Shooting at the two board members and CFO from a blog was no longer good enough. The three felt too safe as words were rolling off their tough exteriors.



New, CEO, Tim McGlew, at his first board meeting watching, board members, Bob Jamison and Brad Armstrong, and CFO, Chet Beedle being told they are unethical and should be in jail.
Sorry Mr. McGlew you didn't need that at your first meeting. But it was going to happen at some point.

New Chief Clinical Officer, Cynthia Burciaga, looks on as strong accusations are put on the hospital record by me concerning the leftover gang from the skilled nursing disaster.

I'm sure this was not the meeting she expected either. But one must know what they're stepping into to be able to make correct moves forward.

CFO, Chet Beedle, who has made it a habit of paying out large sums of money on contracts and his resistance to giving straight answers to questions regarding finance.
Beedle also attacked employees in an effort to push a general obligation bond while the SNF residents were not getting any oversight. He is still here with a 12% raise. I protest.

Bob Jamison gives me his best answer after I question his threats, slander, sexual harassment, and brighten his day with the litany of things he has done to harm the district and the people working there.

That message was not subconscious, Bob.




Though none of the three had any response, the accusations I've made are now on the record.
Personally, I wish it had not come to this, but they decided to stay on and continue to behave the way they have in the past, so I will stay and make sure to remind them every meeting why they shouldn't be there. And next time I may decide to keep it within the three minutes.
The meeting was not much of a story, but there are more pics to come.
Believe it or not.