PAMElA OTT WAlks with PROBATION.

The Walk is getting Wider as PAmela Ott has Been delivered on another Three year probation sentence in the Kern Valley Health care District Elder Abuse  bargain with the Top Prosecutor's office In the State of California, the Office Of A-turn-key General "Kamala Harris" as her leadership has Shown to Be "Justice light" in regard to this case.

Dr. HOshang Pormir Walked away with the same Penalty in JUly and Ott followed suit, as her matching "throw in the" Towels, sentence is Short of "Three STrikes" or simply Tough Love. Pormir and OTT, both oversaw the skilled Nursing facility, Yet, remaining defendant GWEN HUGHES, will Go to Trial this fall, in October, the MOst LIKELy to see any Jail time. 

I could not see the legal case file last week, as Kern County Superior Court felony department provided they were Left in court. Records in the Case are Expected to return to Public Scrutiny this week, But Ott, the former KVHD CEo, has Ridden out of DODGE city with minor Repercussions in the Case as the Three Year Probation is a bargain basement Sentence.

The CEO still must face Civil trials, but the Department of Justice, has wrapped up it's top Two Defendants in a Quicky of JUStice, tricky , as the maGician behind the curtain is Certainly the Kabala of Harris, THE AG, "Kamala" BUT no one is fooled by the strings that ties bind, as I think we all /do MIND.

We MInd that this Is NOT a Just Response.

NOt even close to Scales With a Balancing Act. Appears to the public another EYE shutter, as the players are not concerned and have not learned. LOL

These Are SCales profoundly WEIGHED down, to one side.

They Err and ERR and the Playing field is not Fair.

Only a Decade ago Three Years of Probation was saved for MINOR crimes, and the assertion here in the elder abuse case, is that this vulnerable demographic remains vulnerable.

A ball has been dropped in this game. It has lacked all good in it's Ill attempt to only assuage it's audience.

WHo has Control of this OFFICE, this AG, this DOJ, who cannot see that there has been an affront to all who are unwilling to turn tail and Run?

AGAIN, news is PAmela Ott, KVHD CEO, and Sierra KIngs CEO, Elder abuse Defendant, has received a THree year probation sentence in the KVHD elder abuse case, bargaining with prosecutors.

CAse is nOW in court of public opinion. LOL

Broken news: KVHD elder abuse trial set back until March

Kern County Superior Court case #BF 126665 ACD

"Do you know what the case number is," the clerk at the Kern County Superior court "Felony Department," asked me earlier today when I called to find out why there's a new trial date in the Kern Valley Healthcare District elder abuse case.

I rattled off the familiar number above because this case has been on-going, with the three defendants changing lawyers every other month, until now it boils down to public defenders and a new court date.

The elder abuse trial was set for September, though the calendar has a lot of "white out" on it now, it has recently been stretched out until March of 2012, as defendant, and former Kern Valley Healthcare District, CEO, Pamela Ott, changed attorneys.

According to the Superior court clerk, the reason posted in the minutes, was that Ott's new attorney and also a public defender, Brian McNamara, needed more time to go over what she called, "extensive discovery..." even though McNamara is yet to be cited as Ott's attorney.

With this trial like a cloud over the Lake Isabella community, maybe even defining the rural healthcare system in the region forever, there are now seven months for Mr. McNamara to pick thru the evidence, but what will the new California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, be doing during the lull?



This was Jerry's case

On the campaign trail, Jerry Brown, and Kamala Harris showed up in Bakersfield just days before the election last year. Harris is pictured at the left next to the now Governor, Jerry Brown, who brought the justice department into our mountain community in 2007, taking away a few defendants on elder abuse charges, but leaving behind many who participated in the cover up at the financially failing rural hospital.



I have been watching the cases that Harris has taken interest in since she stepped into Brown's shoes this year, and his boots went a walking into the Governors mansion leaving behind a case that simply doesn't go away. Why?

A situation that involves more than just the abuse, which is enough, to some degree in my opinion, but leaving behind the actual issues and administrators which allowed this foul soup to continue to simmer, really doesn't serve the purpose that is intended to stop the chance of it happening again.

Yes, it's a big case, bigger yet than the DOJ ever imagined in that they have not even touched upon the issues that have occurred with a California insurer, Cal Mtg.

One of their own?

Two years ago nobody here in this valley, employees and residents included, knew of the debt that is attached to their property taxes and insured by Cal Mtg.

Now Cal Mtg. is a well known name and those who want to seem as if they know of something, often mention Cal Mtg. as the villain in the downfall of the hospital over the last 20 years.

Cal Mtg. has actually taken over the hospital at points of default, but they have also tried vigorously to get the community to spend a "latte's worth of money" monthly to pay off the debt and potentially go into more construction projects which is why the hospital is flat broke in the first place: they couldn't oversee to complete the expansion.

I am unsure of what agency handles the oversight at Cal Mtg. but it is something to look into as they have an interesting history which includes taking all of their premium on a 30 year contract, during an emergency measure of refinancing the "revenue" or municipal capital improvement bonds, done by CFO, Chet Beedle in 2003 when the state had it's worst credit rating in years.

Cal Mtg. was either duped by a dump like KVHD or they didn't understand that the hospital has been not only imprudent, but ignorant in it's financial spending. Board members with little knowledge or experience have voted in things they don't even study. The rubberstamp it's called when a board simply relies on it's chief administrator and privately contracted legal counsel to make a decision is too common here.

I don't know the reason that this hospital was not shaken down so that the possibility of restoring it would be available if new oversight was put in place.

Is it justice to simply take away a few people and not the whole group who bred the problems that lead to this type of situation? And then to almost leave behind the leader, head administrator, Pam Ott, who had full knowledge as well as control as her title implied?

But then so did her HR department manager hiring and firing, and her CFO could not have missed the projections of costs, while they were short staffed? Could he?

Ott's relationship with certain board members gave her quorum, therefore cover, and employees who had knowledge was also significant, and especially as scapegoats were made of innocent employees who tried to help expose the mess.

Or would it have been better to simply do all that is necessary to protect the safety of the patients, remove all the infection, do the investigation, so the hospital has a chance to heal?

Well, I have some questions for Kamala Harris, as her PR department doesn't know much about this hidden thorn, that has damaged so many lives, not only the sad treatment of elderly patients and their families, but the ability to function properly financially and offering safe and fair healthcare to the community.

So, at this time, the KVHD/Jerry Brown, elder abuse case is now in the hands of new leader, Kamala Harris, and has been pushed to March of 2012 as all the defendants have had to change attorneys, and these same people are using public defenders, though two are in private practice, due to conflict of interest.

Also coming up: the next generation of law suits and trials from the Kern Valley Healthcare District...Go to the Kern county Superior court site and click on the tab "Civil" enter dates from 2003 to present to find the list of cases now filed in court.

http://www.co.kern.ca.us/courts/crimcal/crim_index_case_num_results.asp

Update soon: What does the DOJ have to say? And why do doctors and CEO's use public defenders?

Thought provoking email from victims of KVHD nursing center disaster: Elder abuse case resumes Dec. 3, 2010

Making it through the grief

I received the email posted below about a week or so ago. It came from one of many families effected by the Kern Valley Healthcare District during the Department of Justice case from 2006 to 2007 regarding the nursing facility's use of chemical restraints.

When I read it over, I thought maybe I'll post it, or "Snope's" it first then post it. I wasn't sure.

I'm simply posting it because I realize there are so many out there still trying to heal from the degradation and in some cases loss of loved ones, and that they are and will be, dealing with grief and anger, amongst other emotions for a long time to come.

The defendants in the KVHD elder abuse criminal case will be back in Kern County Superior Court on Dec. 3, 2010. Former CEO, Pam Ott, former Director of Nursing, Gwen Hughes, who recently filed for bankruptcy and has opted for a public defender, and Dr. Hoshang Pormir, the former Medical Director for the facility, who hired Hollywood legal counsel, Donald Etra.

This is the case opened up by the Department of Justice run by Attorney General Jerry Brown, now Governor-elect, which included a specific topic of chemical restraining as a cause of death in at least three cases. Though I have and continue to believe it is murder, these crimes are known as "elder abuse." Also included are two assault charges regarding a forced injection of the antipsychotic medication known as "Risperdal."

Other issues arose and still plague the hospital today, but as of this time, these are the current defendants.

My best regards go out to all who have suffered needlessly at the hands of the Kern Valley Healthcare District. Here is the email which reminds one of the hypocrisy which surrounds the criminal and civil cases at KVHD.

Jails and Nursing Homes

Here's the way it should be:

Let's put the seniors in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.
This would correct two things in one motion:

Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs, etc.

They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly if they fell or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.

All meals and snacks would be brought to them

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, spiritual counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally recognized entertainment artists.

Simple clothing - ie., shoes, slippers, pj's - and legal aid would be free, upon request.

There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise yard complete with gardens.

Each senior would have a P.C., T.V., phone and radio in their room at no cost.
They would receive daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the ACLU would fight for their rights and protection.

The guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to, with attorneys available, at no charge to protect the seniors and their families from abuse or neglect.

As for the criminals :
They would receive cold food.
They would be left alone and unsupervised.
They would receive showers once a week.
They would live in tiny rooms, for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month.
They would have no hope of ever getting out.
"Sounds like justice to me!"
(If You agree, pass this on!)

Sierra Kings District hospital surviving bankruptcy: Glitch former KVHD CEO missing employee pension funds

We should never have let her go: we owe them an apology

The Kern Valley Healthcare District was in a shambles in 2007 as the skilled nursing facility was under investigation for "chemical restraining" which may have lead to the deaths of several residents.

The CEO of the time, Pamela Ott, now charged with eight counts of elder abuse, resigned in May of 2007 and with the defense of KVHD board members, such as Bob Jamison, now infamous for his hour long radio broadcast, allowing Ott to defend herself, left and took another CEO position at Sierra Kings District Hospital.

Much like KVHD, Sierra Kings serves a small community, and is a public district. Ott took over, and a month after elder abuse charges were filed, in 2009, Sierra Kings fired their CEO and their CFO, Barbara Jennings.

Because Ott was not pursued by the justice system, or KVHD board and legal counsel, she was able to obtain her job at Sierra Kings. She may have even recieved a reference.

We allowed her to go without taking responsibility for the many crimes which occurred at the district during her tenure here in the KRV. (But the beat goes on...)

Sierra Kings went into bankruptcy

Within a month of Ott's termination at Sierra King's, the hospital went into bankruptcy and the board brought on a familiar management company, HFS.

HFS, who recently audited six months of KVHD records, because of the default with the hospital's "old debt" insurer, CAL MTG., took Sierra Kings the only route it found most promising: bankruptcy.

With the backing of the City of Reedley, they were able to try many options, allowing the hospital to continue to serve, and also grow.

Sandy Haskins became the interim CEO, and during the bankruptcy it was reported that Ott had been able to utilize monies from the Reedley community's GOB that was to expand the hospital.

The second and now more nefarious deed, was the pilfering of the Sierra King's employee pension fund.

According to an article in the REEDLEY EXPONENT the bankruptcy is going well, new equipment has been purchased, a new building constructed, but the employees who participated in the pension program, some have lost their retirement.

The article mentions the fact that the employees have tried to attach their lost or stolen pension monies to the bankruptcy but will have to go without, as there is no way to reimburse these employees for the loss.

I'm sure that the employees will find another route, like suing Pamela Ott, who will ironically be forced into bankruptcy herself as she faces both criminal and civil cases. Her co-defendant in the KVHD case, Gwen Hughes, has filed bankruptcy and will now have to utilize a public defender to fight the Attorney General's charges against her.

But the bankruptcy is going well they say....

After the most negative campaign for Measure G here in the Kern River Valley, it was stated repeatedly that a bankruptcy for this district was: Not possible, destructive to the employees who would lose their jobs, and the community would lose all its services too. We all shook with fear.

Now, Sierra King's District Hospital in Reedley, is coming out of the end of their bankruptcy with more services and a new building.

Did they talk to the attorney kept from public view by KVHD administrators and board members?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.reedleyexponent.com/&ct=ga&cad=:s7:f2:v0:d1:i2:ls:e0:p0:t1288923213:&cd=RC56ecKtCQg&usg=AFQjCNHSk3womzkafiHR0_Tf8KtsgQSlHQ

"The cry for help" remember this everyone?

(Only two people really tried to help the employees during the disasterous 2006 nursing center system meltdown, and they are Kathryn and Bob Knight.)

In the first week of January 2007, an anonymous Kern Valley Healthcare District employee dropped off a packet of information.

The six page report didn't go directly to former CEO, Pam Ott, it was slipped under the door of one of the board members.

The staff had already been trying for months to talk to the administrative staff, but felt there was no other way other than to find someone to trust.

In an email, Ott says that the board member was causing problems, the ones that weren't there.

The board member took the documents to the counsel for the KVHD board of directors. From there, Ott caught wind of the report, and her and former CNO, Carole Dene Gunther, went to collect the information from the board member.

Ott demanded that she have the document, though the board member insisted that she keep the original and they could have a copy.

Reports to DHS went in via the board member and staff.

Clearly, this report shows the staffing problems that Ott and the "sticky three" board members, Bob Jamison, Brad Armstrong, and Barbara Casas, ignored and tried desperately to hide. At the April 2007 board meeting, the board clammed up and would not answer questions, leading to a raucous response from me.

The report will be turned over to the DOJ investigators to utilize in pinpointing who knew what and when.

(I would love to be the attorney to cross examine Miss Ott. It should be pretty easy.)

Click on document to read. The hospital was not even meeting minimum requirements for staffing.

KVHD CFO Chet Beedle says Sycamore Asset Mgt. ran up costs in SNF

I remember when my 93 year-old grandfather had a problem with his water heater, or as he called it, raised in Brooklyn, the “burler” (boiler).
He called and left messages with me, but didn’t realize I was out of town.
So, he let the problem go all week until the weekend came and he had to call somebody.

He saw an ad on TV and out came a certain plumbing company on a Sunday with an elderly gentleman all alone.

When I got home Grampa chewed me out for, I guess, going out of town. I went to his house and found the water heater changed out and a bill for $1700.

The average price to install a water heater outside in a closet, was about $500. On a Sunday, maybe $700. (Which is what I sent the company after I stopped payment on my Grampa’s check.)

But two things occurred that day, the first was that there was an emergency situation that could have been caught during the week before it escalated which caused him to have to make a hasty decision.

The second part was the lack of checking out who was being hired to do the job and the price. Grampa accepted the price and just told them to do the job.

But my Grampa was an average guy, not a CEO, CNO, CFO or a specially equipped with ultimate knowledge, KVHD board member.

There is certainly correlation between this story and the situation which took place at the hospital.

When the skilled nursing facility sprung a leak in 2006,(Yes, let’s just continue with the plumbing analogy) many people knew about it. Employees told administration and the board of directors.

With an old, out of date, plumbing system that had been passed by the department of health services and CMS for years without proper direction and education, the nursing facility was flooding.

The CEO and top officials simply shut the doors trying to keep the deluge back.

When the water eventually spilled out, with employees caught in the current, the hospital administration and board began blaming everyone but themselves. (just like my Grampa)

Eventually, with the hospital SNF on the verge of being closed, it was now an emergency. The whole hospital falls if the SNF goes down.

So, what did these bright, credentialed, professionals do different than the ancient patriarch of my family?

Nothing.

They let the problems go just like he did. And made a very hasty decision because of it.

Who you gonna call?

KVHD didn’t have to call anybody, the bat signal went up in the Bakerfield Californian newspaper that the hospital SNF would be closing, they were again in Immediate jeopardy. And that's all it took to attract the ants to the picnic.

Enter the new management company lauded with praise by former CEO ya later, Pam Ott; The saviors of KVHD, "Sycamore Asset Management."

The price? Why they would pay any price at that point to keep the water heater or I mean SNF running. And the management company knew this.

Even more importantly, this management company knew they would make money by helping the SNF or they would still make money by closing it (maybe even more). Yes, the company will help come in and close down a facility too.

From the contract: “ B,2,(c)…KVHD further understands and acknowledges that, in the event the SNF unit of KVHD be placed into temporary management or receivership by DHS services or CMS, Sycamore and/or its officers, directors, agents, employees and attorneys may be requested to either serve in such capacity or assist in carrying out the functions.”

Now, let us take a look at the baseline charges this company, who are long since gone, probably out enjoying the million plus bucks they made in a matter of months, during 2007.
(Gosh, my Grampa is looking smarter to me right now.)

Hourly rates:
Sycamore $245 per hour (reduced from $285)
Pharmacy consultant $100 per hour reduced from $245
RN’s, RD’s, Social, work staff $100 per hour
Staff nurses $85 per hour
LVN $50 per hour
Medical Records $50 per hour
Administrative assistants $40 per hour
Legal counsel $425 per hour

Costs: KVHD shall reimburse Sycamore and its representatives for costs expended in carrying out the obligations under this agreement, including but not limited to, food, lodging, travel and such other expenses as may be reasonably incurred.

Now I’ve seen many of the hospital financial projections done by the CFO; what exactly did he project here? And why when he read off the traveling nursing figures at the last board meeting did he blame Sycamore Mgt.? He could see where the numbers were leading.

But time had been wasted and I imagine we will hear the same excuse again, they had no other choice. And whose fault is that?

This agreement was signed by Pam Ott and Bradley Armstrong in May 2007.
(Ironically enough, Mr. Armstrong still sits on the board, but has become quite a penny pincher. I guess after you sign off all of the hospitals money, you don’t have much left to spend. So, watch out community I estimate they will try to borrow from us soon in the form of a general obligation bond. It will be either the seismic issue or to keep the hospital running. Or they will try to make the cuts in the hospital that have always lead to good things, like short staffing and improper systems of care. What dazzling ideas will we see next?)

More to follow…

Wrap your heads around this...evidence

I covered the Christmas party at the Skilled Nursing Facility in Dec. 2006 for the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper. Strange things happened that night. After I read the indictments in the cases against Hughes, Pormir, and Hayes, and I saw Pam Ott as a witness for the prosecution, I couldn't believe it.

I went back through my emails and found this exchange (some names have been removed for privacy purposes; others are left in)

-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Hart [mailto:muymala@msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 1:01 PM
To: Ott, Pamela
Subject: the party
Well Pam, there were some strange incidents around that party last night.
First, I guess, would be that the happy couple showed up and took one look at me and turned around and left.
Then Gwen came spinning out and said she had a security problem to take care of; you, well, I think I may have seen you there for a minute.
So, what was up?
-----Original Message-----
From: muymala@msn.com
To: @netscape.net
Sent: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 4:19 PM
Subject: and so it goes...

Funnier yet, it turns out that Gwen chased them down the hallway in her wheelchair to assure that they left, cliping BK's shin at one point (it's wrong, but can't help but laugh).

Recall: Bill has apparently already talked to an attorney and gotten the forms. Haven't heard anything for a couple of weeks.

Pamela Ott
Bakersfield, CA 93312

In March of 2006, the DHS report came out that every reporter reads from now.
It had been out earlier but Ott and the other crew didn't tell me. I knew it was all bad from there.
The now famous video during the 5/3/2007 meeting where Ott resigned, with Bob Jamison threatening lawsuits and threatening to kick my "skinny ass out of the SNF."
I went to the hospital, told by an outsider that the phone book sized report was hanging in the glass hallway. When I went to look at it, I was seized upon by employees trying to keep me from reading it. Jamison's version was not correct and was just his normal inflammatory condition. I did use swear words, I admit. But not where any patients could have heard. I would not do a thing like that.
In March, after I saw the report, (the one from the year before is also problematic, but that is for another day) I couldn't believe they would so blind me and this community. Here is the email exchange between Ott and I about the matter:

-----Original Message-----
From: muymala@msn.com
To: @netscape.net
Sent: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 4:54 PM
Subject: Fw: SNF survey
Pam: I'm sending this over to you hoping you will tell me it's not true; that I wasn't the last to know.

Ott's explanation:
Here's the deal:

I do not know why the POC is posted yet, because we have sent it in to DHS and do not have confirmation of acceptance yet. Yes, as is usual, there is a statement in the cover letter that DHS will recommend to CMS that a fine be imposed and that admissions will not be paid by medicare/medicaid after March 13th. This is common when there are citations. Here's the interesting thing,
1. I have sent a letter of "Informal dispute" to DHS because after investigation, the medications that we were using that caused the concern by DHS are considered safer and are standard of practice now (Their reason for citing us under "physical restraint and unnecessary drugs was based upon the fact that they have been used for psychiatric reasons in the past). The reality is that we hired 2 psychiatrists who both recommended continuing the use of the medication (and in some cases, recommended increasing the drug). Also, Naomi and I attended a conference in Pasadena 3 weeks ago where the great CMS/DHS quality improvement Geriatric Guru from UCLA (Dr. Stephen Castle) spoke to the treatment of Alzheimers Dementia and recommended prescription of the very medications that we were giving our residents based upon their behaviors.
2. Interestingly enough, when DHS sends out a letter of intent as our letter states, they include a contact person at CMS where the letter of recommendation is sent. This time, there is no such contact, and as a matter of fact, we have not heard from CMS. I do not know if it is an oversight by DHS, or that they do not believe that their case is strong enough and did not report???

To make a long story short, we do not have a final answer about acceptance of plan of correction, we do not have a response to my "informal dispute" of certain "Tags" that they, in my minds eye and our medical staff's opinion, were wrong in citing us, and there is nothing to report yet because we are not done with the process. No fines have been imposed and may not be (hopeful thinking, however).

Pamela Ott
Bakersfield, CA 93312

UPDATED: Following the trail of Pamela Ott former KVHD CEO/Administrator: Is she on leave at Sierra Kings District?

Update: According to the Reedley Exponent the local newspaper for the area and Sierra Kings District Hospital, said this morning it was confirmed that Pamela Ott was put on leave as of 5 pm last Thursday, right on the heels of charges of elder abuse by the state Department of Justice.

Sierra Kings Board Chairwoman, Trish Johnson, and it was confirmed that Ott is on leave. Lingo doesn't know whether the leave is paid or not.

Also leaving Sierra Kings was Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Jennings, the reason at this point unclear, but Lingo said the chairwoman said the two actions were not related.

Though it is the understanding at this point that Ott as CEO of Sierra King brought in her own "team" and one of which is suspected to be the now former CFO.

When the board chairwoman was asked about Ott's credentials by the Reedley Exponent, the story went that they believed they did their "due dilligence" and it is difficult to get through employers to find the real story.
(Don't we know that here.)
With one exception to that reasoning, all they would have had to do was "google" Ott's educational degrees and within two minutes would have known something was wrong.

The Kern Valley Healthcare District failed to do the same thing or maybe all of them just overlooked it.

Sierra Kings District has its own financial problems as two general obligation bonds were taken from the mostly senior community, and that was not enough money. So, Lingo, told me the hospital has talked about getting "donations" from the community to finish the project.
(That could have been us, Kern River Valley, had Measure M passed)

Rumors abound about financial problems at the Sierra Kings District, and even the word "bankruptcy" has been spoken.

According to Rocky Rogers, City Manager, there is no indication that there is a bankruptcy in progress, but the hospital is looking at how to improve its financial situation.

"All I can tell you is that they are having their finances reviewed. They will have to tell you of any further actions they may be taking. We are here to assist and help in whatever way we can as the Hospital means the livelihood for some 300 people."

Oh, we in the KRV know that our hospital is the biggest employer and the only hospital for 50 miles down a dangerous canyon road.

Currently, there seems to be a management, maybe consultant company in Sierra Kings, called HFS. We will follow this up and get more information as to what this group is doing.

Summary: Ott on leave since 5 pm, Thursday, Sept. 10, two days after she was charges with eight counts of elder abuse.

Later today, hoping to get word back from the Department of Justice on questions from last week....

Lawyers line up in court last Tuesday as the state adds a new defendant to its case of elder abuse in the nursing center at the Kern Valley Healthcare District. Pam Ott pled not guilty and was allowed to leave court with no bail or incarceration.

(courtroom photo from KGET channel 17, Bakersfield)

Still trying to get word on how the emergency meeting at Sierra Kings District concluded last Thursday after their CEO, and former KVHD CEO/Administrator, Pamela Ott was charged with eight counts of elder abuse.

The state's case says that Ott had knowledge of the alleged practices of using psychotropic drugs on difficult patients, but did nothing to stop it.

According to a tip, Ott has been put on administrative leave (Paid or not?) at Sierra King until the felony case begins on Nov. 3 and 4. We will have to verify that information with the hospital.

Ott who left KVHD in a hurry in May of 2007, as civil suits began to be threatened, and at least one family said they settled, or was paid off early in 2007, as the district tried to keep the information from leaking out.

When Ott left she got a nice raise, as she was paid 142K at Kern Valley Healthcare District and according to the Fresno Bee, is recieving $175K annually at Sierra King.

As of right now, Ott has plead "not guilty" and her attorney has actually said according to the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper, that she is completely innocent.

Now there's some hyperbole for you. Since nobody is ever completely innocent, I think her attorney should do his homework, and he will find there are not too many out there who have looked at her resume, and not snickered. And there is a whole community full of people here who were duped but now know the truth.

And let us not forget the employees who were threatened and fired. And the families of residents who say they were mistreated as they tried to obtain records, information, and money.

There are other players in this game, but we have no word if the state has concluded its investigation and will not pursue others at KVHD who also knew what was going on but chose not to stop it or even attempt to help.

Last Tuesday, the two other defendants, Gwen Hughes former Director of Nursing for the nursing center, and Dr. Hoshang Pormir, Medical director, showed up for court as they were scheduled for a pre preliminary hearing. The hearing was continued as Ott was put on the defendant list.

Former Cheif Nursing Officer, Sharon Brucker, who resigned in December of 2006, and the nurse Pamela Ott claimed in correspondence with Department of Health Services was the main person in charge of the nursing center, is seen here outside the Kern County Superior court speaking with Dr. Pormir.

More to follow...

You don't bring me flowers, anymore...

I only gave a 5 minute chastisement to the three leftover impediments to progress, Chet Beedle, Brad Armstrong, and Bob Jamison, last week, so I don't know if I'll get any flowers and a card this time.

Had a I talked to the Knights like that I would have been high fived or like I did two years ago, get a nice plant and a card thanking me for manhandling the two board members who never deserved it. I still have the card, I should blog it.

After Pam Ott, former CEO, and the above aforementioned defendants or should be anyway, allowed a 20 minute long diatribe degrading Bob and Kay Knight, the card and plant was received by the publisher of the Sun, who happily turned over the gift to me. We were all deluded then.

The Knights who I have found out subsequently to be very nice, generous, community types withstood all sorts of attacks for almost 10 years. I kid you not, these people were practically tortured. People should be ashamed.

But you know what, they never stopped telling the truth and never stopped fighting. When Bob Knight was on the board, there was some good wrangling going on. Bob Knight, always out voted, spoke his mind and pulled off consent agenda items, questioned things, and generally irritated those who would be so mistaken that they were the ones in charge, and not the public.

When Kay Knight was elected and her husband was still on the board. The gruesome group went crazy when Kay won her election.

Former board member and now hospital nurse, JoAnn Jones, had her husband run for office to help block out any chance that Kay could be elected.

After the election Bill Jones statement was: "I ran for this board basically to keep 4 of the 5 board members in support of this hospital administration." (Or Pam Ott and Chet Beedle)

He went on to not so delicately say in an audio interview for the newspaper, "It didn't turn out the way we planned, so the three remaining, intelligent board members are gonna have a much tougher job than they need to be burdened with." (Oh, and I'm bad. Well yes.)

I wonder if these people will tell the new CEO and CCO about the legend of the Knights?

KVHD new management company HFS: what will they find here, as Sierra Kings cleaned out by Ott?

(Blogs are currently being updated, and put in a different order. Some of the things have already happened, as HFS is on board doing it's thing, which is to see if there is a way to save the hospital as it is in default on it's contractual obligations regarding the revenue bond project that has plagued the hospital with defaults and service and licensing issues, as well as staffing.)

After a disappointing sale-a-thon at the Kern Valley Healthcare Board of Directors meeting, where the big news was left for last, while we pretended the hospital had not just been taken over by Cal Mtg. the insurer of the revenue bond debt, fourteen million dollars.

Next week, we will not only be signing a contract with HFS financial consultants, we will have "tele-psychiatry." Finally, somewhere for KVHD board member,Bob Jamison, to get help and watch TV at the same time.

I love the Christmas list we're getting for believing things are so much better at the hospital. (It's always good to see the board passing out the kudos and pats on the back as they explain if the community doesn't pay we're out of business. Makes sense...on some other planet I suppose.)

We are going to have new stuff, cool things. Right? And I'm sure much like they have done, if anything goes wrong, they will stand up and take responsibility. Sorry, that's not KVHD that's Sierra Kings in Reedley.

Oh, but we have to pay for it with a general obligation bond. How do those bonds work?

Two thirds of the voters must agree to raise property taxes to pay off the hospitals' debtor Cal Mtg. Then what is left of the monies will be spent on a "retrofit."

Yes, we heard Chet Beedle and Pam Ott say for years it would be too uncertain financially to retrofit the hospital or remodel as there could be hidden costs as there could be mold from the leaking roof in the ER, or more likely asbestos in the ceiling requiring hazmat units to remove it.

They are right. But now the hospital administrators have one plan: pay off the debt and remodel the ER with the money from the community by way of property taxes in the form of a GOB.

Now these bonds have restrictions, you cannot use the monies for anything such as raises, operations of the hospital, just what the community ordered.

Hold it...Or can you?

Pam Ott almost had Measure M in her hands in 2006, until the nursing center collapse.

I was on the campaign trail with Ott and Beedle who both told me that the bond money was safe, as it could not be used for anything other than what the voters said it is to be used for.

After her rather quick departure in 2007 she headed to Reedley California somehow landing another CEO position even with a degree from a diploma mill on the internet.

Sierra Kings district hospital, currently in bankruptcy and being run by interim CEO, Sandy Haskins, of a familiar company who will be here in the KRV soon, HFS.

(HFS began it's contract only a week ago so the inspection, audit, is underway with the audit and we will see what the can find, and fast.)

HFS has been putting the pieces of it's life back together since Ott was fired in October 2009, after elder abuse charges were filed against her.

Now she might find the Fresno District Attorney interested in her recent shenanigans at Sierra Kings. (If the DOJ can't get her, maybe the DA and the good people of Reedley will)

According to this weeks article in the Reedley Exponent, a dynamic, community driven, newspaper, it seems 1.7 million dollars of "GOB" bond money was misspent. (But Ott and Beedle said that couldn't happen)

With CEO, Tim McGlew, and CFO, Cheet Beddle, and possibly the whole KVHD board counting on quickly planning a bond, construction project, and anything else that would entice the community to vote for it's "save the whales" campaign, it's good timing to look at what could have been the KRV.

It's all about trust

Many of us who lived thru the Pam Ott era and survived or partially survived, remember the promises of what the community could do by voting in a bond.

We were all ready to go and believe anything she said. I personally backed Ott and the bond.

Elder abuse charged, Dr. Hoshang Pormir, was another fan of Ott, and was photographed for many of the advertisements for Measure M. He backed Ott's play like nobody else in the hospital.

Now, HFS, trying to revive a dying hospital, Sierra Kings, finds that more than 1.7 million dollars in bond money, with very restrictive uses, has been used.

Oh my? How could that be? there are laws against it.

Well, according to the Exponent article, a government expert said by going against the will of the voters, they have lost "public trust." (along with 1.7 million dollars)

Haskins, the article said, verified the monies had been misused. Apparently, the town of Reedley was excited to vote in a bond worth 20 million and at the same time be promised new technology, another ER, upgrades on the birthing center, Adult and children health centers and seismic upgrades so that they will be standing during an earthquake.

Although monies went for other things, there was a construction project and new ER, but vendors walked away unpaid too. (Oddly, it seems they still have money left over. Good planning, it seems they planned for the misuse of the funds.)

Haskins does say that the rest of the bond monies not used are now being used properly again.

It's so easy to do a bond and build a building isn't it?

At tonight's KVHD meeting there was no chagrin as the board was confident there was no waiting for planning a future project, say in two years when the next election takes place, rather they would push forward and hurriedly get a "thingy" together for this election in November.

There is apparently no time for planning, that's out. We need to take action.
Unfortunately, because financial status reports were unclear, the KVHD board decided not to take action last year when it was apparent the hospital would be in default on it's debts by at least this year. And in default they are.
(I'm lying they knew there were problems but they waited until they are being hijacked by their debt insurer to do anything. Now the extreme measure of going to the community for money is being taken. Had we acted on this last year, could we have allowed more time for planning for the future? Would we have invited more community members in to help? We are setting ourselves up for failure and I'm going to watch it happen. I won't be happy though, but people will learn.)

What if they rush into this and then change their minds about the project, or the prices fluctuate, and the bond is written that the monies will be used for these specific purposes and nothing else?

With minimal planning and a rush job, it could happen. That could lead to a second bond or a third, etc. Or it could lead to using that money for things other than were voted in, which would be against the law. (we don't believe in the law at KVHD so it's really not a problem. And since all the agencies let us get away with "murder" I don't think anyone should worry about consequences.)

Do we really want our hospital "rushing" out a project when in the 1990's they took years to accomplish a third of what they promised and are now in default over?

I wouldn't recommend it, but the hospital is doing what "it" wants to do.

I've been in construction, it's never a good idea to rush anything, most especially a medical construction project with many different types of guidelines which must be followed. You could lose your shirt and fast with all the regulations involved.

Oh, yeah, we know that, but we haven't learned that. We are preparing to make the same mistake again. This time it could be with your money.

In Reedley the clean up from the Ott aftermath

Only the latest financial mismanagement, said the Exponent, as they had reported last month that Ott and financial manager, Chet Beedle, no sorry, Barbara Jennings, held back payments to it's social security alternative program.

Bankruptcy is an interesting process as it uncovers EVERYTHING which may have been done in error, or on purpose, who knows, nobody is going to tell the truth.

With HFS up in Sierra Kings, we have a good opportunity to see what they can do following up on Ott here at KVHD. They may see that there are similarities in the way both our hospitals were run financially.

The board of directors oversight

This article which tells a tale of blatant mismanagement at Sierra Kings, only serves as a warning of what is happening here in the KRV.

A government affairs official cited in the Exponent article said that the board lacked oversight. Well duh.

Tonight at our local hospital board meeting a moment of "who is running the show" became apparent at the end of the night.

CEO, Tim McGlew, told the board he had selected NTD an architectural firm, to put together something for them to see, regarding the bond again that will be on the ballot in November. He said he chose that particular company because the board had used them before.

Then he added, "if that's what the board wants to do."

Suddenly, a board member made a motion, and finally a sensible thing happened: Board member, Kay Knight asked what they were voting on, the company, money, what?

So, before they had heard what they were voting on, motions were made. Does this not make you think that the board is relying totally on it's CEO and CFO?

Obviously, because, one of the board members said the CEO and CFO are the heroes of the district who have cut costs and have been doing an excellent job.

So, I guess there's no reason for a board of directors then? Let's just get rid of them.

According to the article an attorney warned that the board can be liable for things that they should have been watching....and doing their due diligence.

Motioning for a vote without knowing what your CEO meant, is blind voting, pavlovian. Only easily manipulatable minds do things like that.

A tale of two types of boards

With Ott possibly facing some more criminal charges the board of directors in Reedley had something to say.

One board member said they weren't strict with Ott and didn't really know how the money was being spent. The Sierra Kings board member then conceded that the board is beholden to the community and staff.

What a board member actually took responsibility?

No, not here in the KRV, I'm talking about those people in Reedley whom I'm smitten with these days as they would be wonderful to have around here.

The one Sierra Kings board member who admitted they didn't watch carefully, now says that HFS is reporting everything. If they can't pay, the board knows about it that day and is able as a group to take action.

But out of all of this, DOJ, defense attorneys, Measure M supporters, Cal Mtg., we may actually see the truth, and with that truth, correction can be made.

You cannot make a good decision based on inaccuracies and untruths.

If the hospital runs down to the architect and says can you do all of this for us for this price and they say sure, that will be the restriction on the ballot. But as Ott and her gang have shown, all laws can be bent and broken: and people too.

I'd say print out the Exponent article and when the board comes a calling to tell you that they must have this bond: show them the article.

We need to trust the board and administration before we can even consider this bond measure.

And with a financial manager using credit cards to pay for operations costs, it's a cheesy operation which would love to suck in 20 million of "free money."

One audience member tonight summed up the issue of the debt with one practical question: why did it take 20 years to fix this problem?

As usual, no one answered. But maybe the problem with the board is they don't know what to do and hope that they can just skate by on silence and dodging questions they don't particularly like or agree with.

However, at issue is that the problem was never fixed and couldn't be obviously.

Who said that you can only go to a meeting if you agree with the board? Nobody. And in fact, if you harass or target someone for not agreeing with you, you're in violation of a few laws.

Things were strangely chipper, as if we had invited our debtor to take over the hospital. Some of the things that were said, were so out of touch with reality, I could hardly keep my mouth shut. And got gut shot for it too.

It is difficult for me sometimes to be able to explain some of what I have researched to people, board members, administrators, who don't or maybe can't think outside the box. But I feel confident that you the KRV resident, come November, will want to hear more and learn more. And I'll make sure you get the correct information.

One claim I've heard repeatedly is how good we are doing in comparison to other hospitals.

Well, it was said again tonight...

If we are doing better than most other hospitals across California, than why are we being taken over by a bond insurer? Are all the other hospitals in worse shape? How could that be, it makes no sense. Worse would mean, what, closed down? How much worse is it when you have to get a bond and refuse to consider any other options? When it makes no sense, you go to the experts and find out why. I'll get back to you on this.

Then we will wait and see what the DOJ, Etra and Ginsburg, the medical and nursing boards, the Fresno District Attorney, have to say in regards to potential charges against Pam Ott and our other cases of bad judgment.

Now if we find more evidence for you Jerry Brown, could you possibly stop the woman from taking down more than two hospitals and a nursing center? Isn't than enough?

Hopefully HFS will have not ideas, but will dig and find the things they have found in Reedley on our former CEO, Ott. And find the things that still keep us from having a functional hospital.

More to follow...
Thanks again to the people of Reedley, the journalistic integrity, the community support, you are an example for us all to follow.

And here's the article:
http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2010/05/05/news/doc4be1d4b3d65c6435055285.txt

Press control button and click on link to open or just copy and paste into address bar.

Audio interview Pam Ott 6/06 re: skilled nursing

The following is a taped interview with Pam Ott, then former CEO/administrator, for KVHD.

This is regarding the year prior to the psychotropic restraint issues which have lead to three indictments.

The facility was not in compliance, paid penalties, and was not being paid for residents, and this was the 2006 survey.

This transcription does not contain the whole interview, but the portions regarding the SNF.

LH refers to my questions and responses and PO, is Pamela Ott.

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

LH-This doesn't sound like just an annual survey thing because this stopped you from bringing in new patients.


PO-That was that whole restraint thing.

LH- When they came out for the regular, annual survey, they had a new criteria for the restraints?

PO- Right.

LH- They had a new criteria at that point and they said you're not following our new criteria?

PO- Because you are using restraints and they want all nursing centers to be restraint free. I know it's crazy.

LH- Are you going to have people on the floor?

PO- And they say that's okay.

LH-People on the floor with broken hips?

PO-No, they say you can keep them safe when they fall they won't hurt themselves if you protect their environment. If there's pads on the floor, low beds, pads on their hips, helmets if they're prone to falling on their head, (laughing) rubber walls...

LH-I guess you're going to have to throw them in a cotton room then?

PO-Yeah. Now here's what happened, they were sort of put under the gun a couple years ago when it was found that people were hanging themselves in their bed rails or in their restraints because they love to wiggle and they are all Houdinis; and they don't like being restrained so they try to do whatever they can to wiggle their way out.

And so people were hurting themselves with their own restraints which were supposed to be protecting them. So, they started doing this large study about how safe are restraints and believe it or not, with everything I've read, it's safer not to restrain than it is to restrain.

It's safer to let people fall- and they promise us that, I mean we have some people who are in restraints that the family said, if you take that restraint off and we'll sue you.
It was just a huge culture change. We had nurses in tears saying you can't do this to my resident I love, because they're going to hurt themselves.

It was a huge culture change. And that's really the bottom line is that you have to- apparently, from an attorney vantage point, there are enough studies done that say you're more likely to get sued for restraining than you are for not restraining and somebody hurting themselves, because it's standard of care now.

LH- So, this is the new standard of care?

PO- Correct

LH- This is pretty much big business here, the SNF?

PO- Well, that's the catch 22 is there, whether we were using restraints or not, we know that's safer then them being home alone. Without the kind of care that they needed, three square meals, and somebody to help take care of them.

(this is regarding the hoped positive outcome that patients will be admitted and paid by medicare again)

PO- So, we'll fill up pretty fast. And that's always the case here. We always have a waiting list, because the reality is no matter what about the restraints thing, we have a wonderful reputation.

(Two months after this interview, in Aug. 2006, Gwen Hughes was hired as the Director of Nursing in the Skilled Nursing Facility. Then, apparently, a different type of restraint was being used: psychotropic drugs. Now Ott is a witness for the state in charges against the SNF. Though, Ott herself, has a civil suit against her surrounding the same incidents. Here is her statement in the transcript from the state's case.)

On May 27, 2008, I interviewed Pamela Ott, former CEO/Administrator for KVHD. Ott stated that Gwen Hughes was the DON at KVHD when she was the CEO/Administrator. Ott stated that during the time DPH conducted their investigation in January 2007, she was informed of accusations from the staff that residents had been held down in order to give them forceful injections of medications.
Ott stated that the nurses came to her to voice their concerns with Hughes being rude and cruel to staff, but was never made aware of the psychotropic medications being used or Hughes threatening staff for refusal to administer these medications. Only after DPH conducted their investigation was Ott informed that KVHD resident, Louise Zimmerman, had been given a forceful injection of Respiridol without her consent.
Ott stated that she and her staff conducted a full internal investigation of the forceful use of psychotropic medication and found the accusation to be legitimate. The investigation found that Zimmerman was biting, kicking, and hitting others and that the IDT had recommended to Pormir the use of Respiridol to treat her. Their internal investigation found that staff were directed by Hughes to go into Zimmerman’s room to participate in administering the forceful injection to her. The internal investigation found that staff distracted Zimmerman. Then an injection was given to her without her consent. In this investigation, Pormir stated that he approved the use of psychotropics on Zimmerman.
Ott stated that there was a written report completed regarding this internal investigation.
This investigation is located at KVHD in the Quality Improvement (QI) file. Ott stated that she considered the incident in which Zimmerman received a forceful injection of psychotropics as elder abuse at the highest level.

That's not the way some people see it

Not that I know for sure if the state has spoken with any of the nurses and others who are about to be quoted regarding the knowledge of the board and Pam Ott, but these are certainly alarming facts that don't fit snuggly into the indictment. I have picked out a few quotes from my notes taken in May of 2007.

"By the second week in August staff was already calling in complaints to DHS."

"The hospital actually picked me up at lunchtime because they didn't want me to talk to the state."

(Regarding the incident when board members Kay and Bob Knight entered the nursing facility and was chased off by DON, Gwen Hughes, in her wheelchair running into Mr. Knight's shins with the approval of Pam Ott, who said, ordered her to get them out of there)

"Peg was in the SNF and stood up for Bob Knight. Pam ordered Gwen to write up Peg."

ONE MORE:

"When we told her about the SNF, she kind of hemmed and hawed, she really didn't want to know. She wanted to get rid of the people who know the truth."

Back to the future! KRVR forum from April 2007 resurfaces

I had this odd feeling, de ja' vu, earlier and realized I've been saying much of the same things for more than 2 years. And now we have reached a juncture in time where the community knows a little more of what I was talking about back then. But I'm seeing much of the same behavior now, as the hospital is on the brink of true change or utter disaster.

In April of 2007, the fight began.

And we took it to the backyard of the KRVR hospital forum. It was the heaviest hit site on the website, and that wasn't just the folks visiting and reading.

A battle was ensuing and the killer bees took up their computers at the hospital and we had words...lots of words. (Read the Urban legend/revelation/responsibility post)

Many people showed support, while the heated confrontation took place. Shortly after the fight began, former CEO, Pam Ott resigned. Board member Bob Jamison blamed me and took Ott to his radio tower where she was allowed an hour of dementia. (see Ott interview QAB)

I'm not really a pack rat at all, as soon as I throw something away, I suddenly need it. But we tried to track the archives from the forum and were not successful. Then I happened to look in my documents and there it was.

So, this is where it started:

April 2007: Then board member Barbara Casas

I feel very sorry for you at this stage, I know that public opinion is very important to you, and I truly want what is best for you, please give up this vendetta and try to report only what is true.

You say you had "carte blanche" when dominating the question period; how was anyone to know you were going to use the whole time allowed, questioning just the Knights, the time allowed you at the last Board Meeting your whole question period was directed at all board members (primarily "the Big three" and the CEO----now....I think we were all a little stunned at the request to repeat what was said at the previous Special Meeting. (She called them the "big three" and I have since called them the "sticky three.")

Acting Brown
This shows three work together; 2 work together; If the three always vote the same; you Jamison and Armstrong; is there a vote you can cite where this hasn't happened for us please? Have we ever seen meaningful discussion go on between all the board members; or have we seen a cliquish stalemate something out of lack of creativity 101.

Boards rarely agree; but they are willing to research and discuss and not rely on a CEO for all the information.(That goes for reporters too. I relied on the CEO and you three board members BC, BJ, and BA, for my part of the information; and what did I come up with but nothing more than a slanted picture which I'm embarrassed and apologetic about.)

Now you mentioned in an earlier post that they (The Knights) don't play the game; play along. With who? You, your two board mates, and the CEO?If a board has consensus sometimes that's another word for complicity; people have boards to get different opinions; offer different talents and styles. This board has three people that consistently blame two others for their downfall. (To err is human; to blame others is management potential)

You are the people in charge of setting policy; I am sure you would have to spend time really reading this material which could be confusing and ponderous. (Such as the SNF reports you get year after year) Then you are supposed to enforce these policies through your CEO.

I don't mean to be so frank here, but your CEO is not the leader that will pull this district from dire straights. She has four years now of trying; how long before you decide it's not working out? But the three of you board members will be defending her regardless of the ill effects it could have on the longevity of this hospital.

Will you let this hospital perish so that you can carry on as you did; as a club; with no real scrutiny; no openess and visibility required by a public healthcare district?And if you claim visibility; I will show all the tapes of the board meetings I've collected in the last 16 months. (It's funny how you forget what you said last year)

Say it out loud; write it down: If Laura Hart would just go away we would be fine. We could get back to the business of making things look like something is happening. And if it doesn't look good; continue our traditional scapegoating process. That's really what all these negative posts are all about. Is this hospital owned by the four or more of you?

Now, I say I can think of several people who would make great board members in this community. We are not short on talent in this valley; and Mrs. Casas that means you too. But you are locked in with the "in group;" there is horrid divisiveness and slander on your team; keep things hidden; breaking the rules of the board; blaming others. Regardless, this means little progress on the real stuff.

And I'm positive a good CEO could be found; one with experience in talking to a small community; not trying to scare it death with the tales of the small town reporter trying to "take down" the hospital (and some other ripe stuff I might add).

Somebody needs to both bolster the slumping morale amongst the employees; and manage to stay on top of the demands of the state and the demands of a construction project. We need a state of the art CEO. (I hope we have one now)

Basically, we need leaders; with heart; and ones who will commit to see this thru for the community. "From bond to Building" But have the talent and mostly integrity to do so. I say we need to start on this now. And we the community need to start with people we can trust with our money; We are now scrutinizing our investment. (Unlike Cal mortgage did 20 years ago ; the insurer of our multi million dollar debt)

If KVHD CEO and board of directors can't staff, medicate, manage, plan for growth, recruit and retain good staff, correctly bill people; then maybe it's time to let go and allow someone else to help.

Does that sound unreasonable? Thanks for your thoughts. Laura Hart

From the inside

You are right Laura, staffing in the SNF has been a problem for quite some time now. How many days have they worked short? When staffing is at the state required minimum and one or even two CNA's call off that leaves a lot of work for those working that shift. But hey, by staffing like that it looks good on the books, it helps the SNF to be within or below "budget" & then the good report that the SNF made a profit. The CNA's work very hard & care very much for their residents, so it makes it very hard on them when all they can do is the bare minimum both physically & mentally. And when their cries for help fall on deaf ears, no wonder the morale is low. If any one of us walked in their shoes, I wonder how long we could keep our morale high? They definitely need leadership that will support them & in the absence of a DON, that responsiblity falls back to Admin. But where are they?

The restraint story

Dear Laura, I just wanted to respond about the "supposedly" new laws concerning restraints that KVHD Admin keeps alluding to. In the DHS exit interview last year, the restraint law was brought up. At that time (and I believe it was the previous CNO) the question was asked when the law was enacted. The DHS surveyor could not remember the exact year but did state it had been on the books for quite some time. The CEO was also in attendance at that meeting. So, why do they keep referring to the "new restraint law"? My guess? Just another issue that they can blame on something or someone else
The current CEO is looking for any excuse to blame the situation on. This is her M.O. and has been for years and years. I have worked with this CEO in the past and know she will always blame something or someone else. She is not capable of admitting to a mistake or not knowing an answer.

And Annie and her emoticoms
I thought you had all the facts, and that you were so trusted with all the information regarding all these "crooked people" who only want to "bury the Healthcare District."

The fact is, Laura Hart, you have done more damage in the short time you have decided to "turn 360 degrees" from the truth, then the Knights have historically, that is more damage verbally, not financially, no one could ever surpass that monetary loss to the healthcare district.....no way.

From my view you have been "playing both sides of the court" and a good reporter should have more discernment, especially after listening to a person whose goal has been since 1998, to prove to this valley that he can run the Healthcare District better then he did then; God help up all if that ever happens, you can kiss that "Blarney Stone" for me too, because if you believe that will ever happen, think again!

Snakes and venom: my response
Hey, I love emoticons....does that make you mad?
I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh at this post Annie. This is humorous stuff; but your timing is off; we have a critical situation at our hospital; code blue! And the time for screwing around is over.

I will however address what you have said about the venom I'm using; well as we know, when dealing with snakes, venom often times is the anti-venom. This community has been bit repeatedly by snakes living in that hospital; and nobody has come to our aid. Well, there were a couple who tried to bring in the grand jury; but the corruption at Tehachapi was taking up too much of their time apparently to deal with our little hospital.

These were our early heroes who took the shots I now expect I will be taking for a long time to come.

So, if someone doesn't agree with current management or the triad board; then they are...what...it has to be...supporters of the Knights.

The knights have no power; they get voted down every time. What is with this specious argument? If anyone wants to verify that they call me and get a copy of the tapes of the board meetings; or call the hospital and get the board minutes.

All they do is irritate the decision makers with their requests for material and their questions. They have no real power for crying out loud.Gee whiz, I was hoping at least for something different from you Annie the emoticom lover. Hey, it's cool, I don't want your name; you have no real important information for me. You are just a parrot; I've heard this squawk before. Take care. Laura Hart

We brawled and crazy, outlandish (even by my standards) posts were put up by Jamison, who talked about aliens on the very day Ott turned in her resignation. But she stayed on for 30 days and did some damage in retaliation. It was ugly.

It takes time to deal with embedded wrongdoing. Even more than 2 years.

We have had patience, now we need action....

We were just discussing the GOB tonight at the meeting...

Desperation showed up on CFO, Chet Beedle's face tonight when an audience member, David Derr, who seems to routinely ask one polite question per meeting, as he has just retired and has an interest in helping out the hospital, possibly or even for sure running for a seat on the board of directors (BOD).

(What a way to spend your retirement, he must be a saint, I think I'll vote for him)

His question of the month was basically has the board discussed bankruptcy as we have said, the hospital is in default for the fourth year, but now a move is being made by creditor, Cal Mtg., and a management company has been engaged to rigorously tear apart this hospital finance fiasco and audit it.

(Some people like to describe the situation a little differently, as the CEO, likes to say, that they are here to help us out. Oh yes, that's right, very much so.)

Chet explained it pretty well but not the real story, we will go into detail in the next article, as we are in an unholy alliance with Cal Mtg. they are our "credit." We cannot do anything without Cal Mtg. They are like a virus that was never eradicated twenty years of debt and damage.
(Can someone actually say it was a good idea to engage in this revenue bond program? The hospital will either fall or continue to be run within a tiny budget which doesn't give life to any dreams of progress and upgrades.)

After Chet left out the part where we could actually bargain with our creditor, but we are so reliant and the hospital management has been so "untruthful" with them as well, that we would be hard put to actually accomplish this.

Nobody in the community has come to me and said they want to pay more taxes, they keep asking about bankruptcy. The answer is simple, a mistake was made twenty years ago that has cost this hospital everything.

And now after years of being kept in the dark, having employees coming in and out of the doors, the community turning its back as there is no trust and no interest in the hospital involving them, except for one thing: Now they need our tax money.

Not only do they want it, they have to have it. Yes, it's true.

For years now, the hospital has not rang with the voices of change that were here only a few short years ago. They left because the hospital lied to them. We have been lied to openly about so many things that there is simply no trust. Even the crumbs we get thrown are not enough to quench the drought of explanation we deserve.

I almost find the bond idea offensive and relying on it, not including the board in the activity of surveying the possibilities, is rot with desperation and indignity.

People have moved away since the "Ott era" (2003 until her get away in May of 2007) and some have moved because of this hospital.

Maybe nobody has noticed, but lives have changed because of what has happened at that hospital. It's haunted with deciet which is thick and won't go away.

It may have helped if there were some honest clean up and honest counsel after the mess. Instead there was just more mess, the board voted in a "time and materials" contractor who took them for a couple million at least.

And this is why it's no surprise that the hospital is getting the cold shoulder back.

And unfortunately, tonight, the CEO Timothy McGlew did not fire the bond sales company which made a suggestion on tape that this hospital misrepresent the verbiage on the voting ballot so not to have to explain why the community should pay extra taxes for the next thirty years. McGlew did say he talked to his manager though. That's something to hang your hat on.

We were just talking about her...

I took a peek at my favorite newspaper, the Reedley Exponent, part pit bull and community advocate, with good solid information.

Last month at the special meeting when I suggested that this KVHD bond money could be misspent, as the rest of the money has been, apparently, this lit a whole round of arguments that it could not. Nothing is absolute and criminals always find a way.

I alerted the board to the fact that our own former CEO and sidekick of Chet Beedle, Pamela Ott, was recently said to have taken bond money out of Sierra Kings District in Reedley where they had voted in a GOB to build a new wing.

Wouldn't that be odd if that only happened there. According to our friend and guidance counselor on how to write bonds on the ballot and win, win, win, he had "never" seen that happen.

There's no way statistically that Ott simply is involved in a criminal case which took place around a bond issue, Measure M, and the short staffing of the nursing center, and the blindness of us all that she wasn't doing this because she didn't absolutely love our "wonderful" community.

The audit is in, read about at the link below, but Ott is now credited with being the only person a representative of Caldwell, Winters and Flores, has ever in his whole career seen be able to use the bond money in a way that the voters and taxpayers didn't want nor vote in.

We will follow closely now to see what the DA is going to do. Can the government protect the will of the people to have their money spent a certain way? Unlikely...

I'm laughing while reading it...

I'm going to use a paragraph out of Reedley because it is so ironic, as McGlew waved around a small piece of paper supposedly containing some work done by the architects we've hired as apparently the hospital is broke but willing to pay to get this bond. Eeking desperation over there.

(If he calls this a footprint, I'll faint on the spot.)

The reason we are in this situation with Cal Mtg. was because of construction costs and losses which occurred twenty years ago.

Now, we the community, as Chet used his best baby face to ask the community to help and vote for his bond, must pay off the old debt and still be beholding to Cal Mtg. for our credit, which really doesn't actually improve our situation that much, then they are going to undertake the most stressful and risky venture: do remodeling.

People divorce over these types of things.

Since at this point there is actually no way to get this bond, what will we do? Nobody has discussed the obvious things, like eliminating certain services which until such a time as the hospital can support itself, could be restored and are not shorted so much that they can't make money and become an excessive liability.

This is like throwing good money after bad, much like the government always does. But since Chet Beedle has blamed everyone from Cal Mtg. to the whole state of California for the problems, I say why not have the state take out a huge GOB for 40 billion, the whole state will pay higher property taxes, and then of course the money will trickle right down on top of our hospital and restore us. This way rather than the little Kern River Valley bailing out a hospital with their property taxes, the whole state will share in bailing out the whole state. And CFW will help write the verbiage on the ballot and then collect 40 million for their services. (it's just a thought)

That's what tax man says...

Not only did the audit find that Ott used the untouchable bond money, but she was also cited with mishandling employee pension monies as well. Maybe she was simply handling the monies rather than mishandling...

Here's the end quote from the Reedley Exponent about what happened with the construction project at Sierra Kings...It gets spooky when I make comparisons of these two public healthcare districts.

In October 2009, Zumwalt Construction, Inc. and a subcontractor filed claims against the hospital totaling $987,136, alleging deficiencies in the design documents, changes in the work, and other factors. The hospital disputed the claims and sought $623,000 in damages resulting from delayed completion of the project. Both parties have agreed to participate in mediation, but it is not yet resolved.

Go read the whole article, it will help you decide on this GOB being pitched at KVHD.

http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2010/06/02/news/doc4c06cdf1c0177127438958.txt


Good pictures from the meeting, you'll never guess who showed up, it was a motley group...

I miss the toughness and integrity of 60 minutes: Diane Sawyer allows hack job of Kern Valley Healthcare District elder abuse Story (national but not helpful, thanks for trying)

ABC World News Tonight: sounds good

(I still remember the hayday of 60 minutes, the CBS masterpiece of television journalism, how about you Diane Sawyer?)
We were happy to hear that the story at the Kern Valley Healthcare District was being covered nationally, but that was short-lived as the majority of those who watched it shared with me they were disturbed.

"They don't even know the truth and that is why the media is as screwed up as it is."

"I can't believe they did it again."

"You're right, TV can't really cover this story."

After hours of talking and then reading some emails, I began to realize that ABC World News tonight really did nothing to help our situation here in the Kern River Valley, nor were they able to really get a handle on the story. And the may have even hurt us by coming in at the end basically and using year old footage.

The story eminates from channel 23 in Bakersfield, the local ABC affiliate, much like the only radio station in our mountain town, QAB, is also an ABC news affiliate.

The irony here lies in that ABC news, it could be argued, is a co-conspirator in the elder abuse case.

My argument would be that I personally, and I know directly that others have contacted agencies such as the FCC and ABC news and QAB to complain about the behavior of Disc Jockey and "KVHD" board member, Bob Jamison, in regards to keeping the truth of the circumstances at the hospital from the public.

Which I think makes it a conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Charged with eight counts of elder abuse, and the last defendant to be charged "thus far" (I hope anyway) in the case, former CEO, Pam Ott, was allowed an almost solid hour (meaning advertisements were purposefully reduced) to make her case with Board member Jamison's blessing.

So, we, the community, the public in general, did not know to what extent the situation at the hospital had degraded.

By this time, I know of one for certain, family that was paid off and took money to be quiet.

Yes, the district paid off a family, a small sum to go away and not let this mess get out to the public.

But when it did, the media, QAB and even the local newspaper, were allowing misinformation, and focusing on what they thought would help (help keep their advertising contract I'm sure) the hospital.

You cannot allow a hospital overrun by criminal and unethical behaviors/activities to be removed of a few and leave the top layer over the rest with no recourse.

We were warned

There was a whistle, a horn, a scream, and then a crashing noise as all of this took place between late 2006 and early 2007.

I'm here because one of the media outlets flat out lied, and the other could not bring itself to understand the problems and give it the coverage it needed.

I'm here because the attorney general had the former CEO, with diplomas from Kennedy/Western University (google that or just look at the post of her whole resume) and emails misrepresenting her credentials. Any rookie human resources clerk could catch that.

I'm still here because the county DA didn't want to get into this morass of small town politics.

I'm still here because people still need help and the truth has not finished surfacing. And I won't be going away anytime soon it seems. As there have not been others willing to step up and take on this crooked situation.

Did your story help us? Then what was it for?

We are quick to beat up on the media, and truly they do need some good wake up calls. But for the most part the media want to report as best as the type of media they utilize can support.

A television station cannot handle a complex story such as the one that has occurred here on the five o'clock news unless it becomes a series, drawn out to allow time for interviews and facts, allowing the viewer to have enough information to decide on their own what has happened.

I could suggest a few segments for television which would cover our story:
"Financial policy leads to short staffing a nursing center potentially causing patient harm. The on-going Kern Valley Healthcare District case."

Then they could add a story on corporate tyrranny and use the KVHD managers and a few board members as examples. "What to do when your manager is doing something illegal: the whistleblower act."

Another, why people are frightened enough to do things they normally wouldn't do?

The list goes on and on, as there are many layers to this situation, and so much to be learned by us all.

Point is there is a lot of material in this story, so which do you do? All of it, of course. Leave nothing out. It's too vitally important.

I'm here to help bring about true change and hopefully watch justice happen in my lifetime. Though I recieved a few exasperated emails tonight from those who just want this to end. Some are families of the nursing center residents and others are just involved somewhere.

I hope that there are those who are redeemed from this horrible situation, as it changed all our lives who are and were involved.

Channel 23 I believe you should make your way up here tonight, at 5:30 pm for the board of director's meeting. It is time for the media to help out, we would appreciate it.

You could help get the truth, "the dam truth" out there. Because that is what our job is about.

A story with a juicy Jerry Brown soundbite is tempting, but that was old news, and he has reiterated the exact same message without elaboration.

I'd like to ask him why or how Pam Ott ever got on the witness list. What drugs were the investigators on when they did that? Psychotropics?

And really I want to know why the rest of the notables, some still stuck at the hospital, are not being at least reprimanded. Maybe not elder abuse, but lot's of obstruction took place, and truthfully, some of it, not so long ago.

So, the media who covered this need to ask themselves if they did this to shock us and make us tingly or to help?

I know that the story contained an interview with the "former" attorney for Dr. Hoshange Pormir, a long time doctor in the valley, from Lebeau and Thelan, about how Dr. Pormir supposedly feels about the drugs which were administered.

I know Dr. Pormir probably didn't appreciate that interview as today in court, the date was continued until March 9, 2010, because he has a new attorney, Donald Etra, from Los Angeles.

That was a very self serving interview I believe, and even more so, it may have damaged Dr. Pormir's case as I saw no reason that he should reveal anything as to the direction his client or his defense is taking the case.

That was a bad and damaging interview.

What happened in court:

It was a strange morning as I struggled to get out of bed, and my camera person had a car breakdown, and my friend hit traffic in the canyon because of road work, and none of us made it to the church on time to see the three defendants.

But I decided to make a call to channel 17, KGET, and then 29 to see if they had covered the case. No.

Unhappy, I decided off chance, though I had not talked to them before as I have the others, to call channel 23, an ABC news affiliate.

I got someone on the news tip line, and asked if they went to court. Yes. I thought great. I was told that it was continued until the ninth of March as a new attorney, Donald Etra, had come on for one of the defendants, he couldn't tell me which one.

I thanked him for the info and then he asked me who I was. I said, I'm Laura Hart, and not hearing a shriek, I continued on to say I am the reporter who was the first investigator on site in the matter and staying on until it's properly and justly settled.

He didn't tell me about the story that was to run later on both the local and national news, but asked me some more questions. I told all he needed to know about me was on my blog: google me I told him. (sounds kind of kinky now that I say it that way)

Anyway, news guy  then thanks me and asks me for my name and number, basically because of my winning personality I'm sure, to catch up later.

Then I try to find this attorney locally, and the name, "Etra" sounds both like "extra" and etcetera" which seemed odd.

So, I call back the newsguy at 23, and just for kicks have him restate the name so I know it's not in my mind, and I dyslexically wrote it down.

He reassured me on the name and so then I looked it up and reassured myself by calling the courthouse to verify the name.

It may not be exciting, but basically, the case was continued, new lawyer needs time to catch up on the situation, and we will see where they are at in March.

There maybe more...I'm still poking around.

Civil case, in Shepter vs. KVHD, they're arguing the statute of limitations law which allows the government entity, say the healthcare district, to be informed that they are going to be sued six months after the injury or death took place. That is in California, other states are even more restrictive.

KVHD is arguing the Shepter case, one of the victims listed in the criminal matter, that they didn't file on time.

These short statute laws offer a kind of protection to the government entities, as many times the people who have injuries or lawsuits are unable to collect or even be heard as they may not have filed on time. The lawsuit could be dropped or not even started based on this shorter than average time frame, statute of limitations.
Tonight: board meeting 5:30 pm in the hospital cafeteria. Please attend as the meetings become more and more important. The auditor will be here, to give his perspective on all things financial. But I want to remind those who attend: this auditor has been doing the districts books for many years, Rick Jackson. And the thing I would like to see happen would be a thorough, forensic audit.

Anyone can take someone else's numbers and say they look all right: but when you actually have receipts, bills, cheques, that is far more invasive and thorough. Yes, costly, but I bet we find more money than not, as billing is behind a few years.

See you there...