Poison out of control: Poison control and KVHD

Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

As I skirted past the communication problems with the Kern Valley Healthcare District in a previous post, making light of the fact that the ER wrote in a report they were "looking" for my appendix, which I say again, was removed when I was 12, I was only trying to digest what I only recently learned about my "incident" at the ER in January.

There's nothing funny or light about what has happened to people in this ER, and I will explain exactly what went wrong in my case.

But I didn't know about it until two weeks ago about this cardiac condition.

It's called Bradycardia

What you maybe able to see in this picture above is an EKG from the ER at KVHD, the heart rate is 45 beats per minute. For those of us unfamiliar with heart rates, the medical profession considers a heart rate of 60 and lower to be "Bradycardic," meaning the heart is not pumping the juice fast enough.

Generally, when people are diagnosed with bradycardia, according to a wide variety of websites, the next step is a trip to the cardiologist and likely a pacemaker, unless it can be directly linked to an acute drug overdose.

The relation of this picture to my case is that this picture of the EKG, was that it is from November of 2010.

I got the news a little late don't you think?

My "9/11" occurred on 1/20/11 when I arrived at the KVHD ER with my dog in the car as I had palpitations and weakness, and though I regularly tried to get help for my gastric problems which were becoming so severe as I could not get the ER doctors or even my own PA to take the situation with some immediacy.

There's not a day that passes that I wish I had not gone there that morning, but the point is we take tests and then we don't get results or we get a missed signal that could have halted a mistake or treated an underlying issue.


There's a scratch in our record keeping

Why didn't my doctor know I had Bradycardia and why did the hospital who knew and I didn't, never even make a diagnosis, when you can see my pulse was much the same as it was on 1/20. I also had a second event, or at least noticed event that was so bizarre I can't believe it.

I fell in my room, fainted I would say, as I had been weak and sick for a couple of months. It also made no sense that I was sleeping as much as I was during this time, as I'm an insomniac. My neighbor was actually entertaining my dog as I slept the days away.

It would have been nice to know that I had a problem, and the tests that were paid for again, were of no use whatsoever. Those test were for nothing but a path that was never followed up on and not by me, as I notified and made complaints all during this time frame.

Nothing has been followed up on

I'm in a new place and a new time, with different conditions to wrestle with, and it's because I came home from fainting at the hospital, the diagnosis was a "panic attack and pain of unknown etiology." There is an EKG again with Bradycardic symtptoms, yet nothing is done, or said about it.

Again we the insurance of the government of the United States paid for a useless test I was never advised of nor was I treated for. And now it's nine months later and the insurance is paying away as I have had to take this all on myself, outside the valley.

Does the government know about what happened to me and others I know of directly, are my numbers part of a "quality control" system for this Critical Access Hospital, how they are doing in terms of actually "healing" patients and not making patients out of people who were well or even better before they entered the KVHD death trap?

No, and that's why you and your friends should stop relying on the figures out there regarding medications, hospitals, doctors as you know nothing until you see them close up, what they are really about.

The Jaguar program

I don't think KVHD could have been more clear than they were last year when they gave the CEO a raise, froze the raises or increases for the "regular" employees, and asked the community to bail them out of bad decisions financially all at the same meeting.

It's very clear this is like Dr. John Owens, OBGYN, in Bakersfield told me in regards to his former visits to the valley to keep us from having to travel, he said, " it's like a third world country up there, so I'm doing what I can to help."

Sounds like an honest approach, but not one generally found around the feeding dish we call KVHD.

I'm sure Owens made nothing coming up here and there are others that have been overextended two of which are leaving, and another one is suing the hospital.

Is this the kind of company we want to trust with our "health" or future as Dr. Gross again, I must say, makes a point.

I trusted KVHD and I've trusted the medical profession, and I am dealing with them in the best manner possible at this juncture. My feelings are more of disappointment in the people who actually would mix my politics and medicine.

In fact, I asked that question only a couple months before this whole drama began, and I was told with a certain "how dare you even question me" response that it would never happen.

But suddenly it's an emergency call poison control

I imagine that everyone who has been hooked on pain management has a story or two to tell, but this is not a story that should have happened, and the outcome was damage.


The point of pain management which is not being met in my opinion, is to educate the patient to monitor their own pain relief, as the only real antidotes to certain pain is opiate related. There are contracts a patient will sign in order to receive these medications from a "specialist" in pain.

On my records I gave KVHD the name and number of the doctor, Ashok Parmar, of Bakersfield, as the ER was blaming the drugs which I had taken for a year with no adverse effects, then had only taken a sample of the new drug, and had seen this doctor the day before.

Now suddenly my heart rate becomes an emergency. If that is the case, then it was emergent on November, 11, and December 25th, as my heart rate was the same and I was not using that medication.

No call is made to my doctor, but poison control, which I have had to break up into several videos below, is the first call Dr. Martin makes in his attempt to treat this two month old emergency.

He also does not offer the full information which are on the records, as he then has no problem admitting there's a history of bradycardia, but why are we treating it as a poison control issue suddenly?

I would have like to have known about this, I think it would have been best explored at a cardiologists office and also with the endocrinologist and rheumtologist.

We all have paid for this service, and due to the maltreatment and misuse of a drug known to cause serious side effects, called Narcan, or generically, Naxolene, the costs are skyrocketing.

They don't use it much except on overdosing heroin addicts, though it has other therapeutic uses, it's commonly administered routinely in the back of an ambulance. And the nurse who administered the drug to me, my best guess, is he hadn't done it in a long time or ever.

If only it was a paramedic

The drug was put directly into my vein, it was not dripped in a bag at a low dose to deal with a long acting medication, as the Narcan lasts only about 45 minutes. It would have to be slowly infused easily and gently if the person is awake and treating pain, but if someone is turning blue it goes up the pipe and many a successful heroin addict has his story I'm sure.

The nurse would have to had regular experience with this drug to know that when he ran to get more pain medication that he would be giving it to me while the anti-opiate was still working, thereby making that pain even more intolerable.

I don't know how much Narcan is used at the hospital, it could be a good question, but I don't imagine they have a tremendous use, therefore the nurse was as confused as he seemed to me to be as he was putting this in my vein and not the bag.

(Pictured above is my final EKG as I was released from San Joaquin hospital with a 30 beats per minute pulse, which is lower than the pulse I had when I entered KVHD four days earlier. I guess I was a walking emergency)

The second issue that has cropped up for me is the tape of poison control and the discussion with the hospital. I do think they had a problem getting correct information from Dr. Martin who openly told them I come in a lot for and take a lot of "drugs." On the record from the two times I saw him regarding what has now finally been treated and is a hiatal hernia, a hole in your gut, he gave scant history. He gave incorrect history his own records refute.

What happens when a doctor asks poison control whether or not they should admit a patient? I don't know how it happened, but I knew somehow that poison control would have a record, and upon hitting the welcome sunlight of the day leaving San Joaquin, I went straight home to my computer.

You see nobody told me anything. From here to Bakersfield and back, I didn't know what had happened to me and why I would be in the shape I was now in. It was like the date rape drug, I was in and out of it, and transferred with nobody in my family notified, my friends were on the list and all they got were death threats once I arrived home. (Post and recording of death threats below somewhere on here)

Oh, the government will protect you

I looked up the Narcan, then called the FDA, as I was never told about the bradycardia from November and December, therefore, I assumed they were treating the drug I was trying, a once a day, called Exagol. That's what I told the FDA as I assumed something had gone very wrong.

But then I remembered hearing the phone call, as I had a migraine and could hear a pin drop and Dr. Martin was talking to poison control. I made a few inquiries and found them, though they don't want to deal with this situation, (more in a moment), I called them and wrote to them.

I ended up with the tape you will hear below, if it works.

By the way there are certain "apps" you require to see the video on an Iphone and such. So, to see these videos you will need a computer and speakers as well.

But when I heard it finally trying to edit it, I really began to hear it. I really began to hear the things that had happened that have left me damaged for months.

It could be you, it could be anyone in this town, and albeit odd to have to write first person this is my story, I did complain, I will continue to complain, I will also add to this story, as it effects my ability to do many things. I know my story telling has taken a dive, but give me a chance and I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.

These are slightly out of order...consider this blog still under construction, if there are any problem listening to the tapes, I'll be pulling some quotes, but the best way to experience this nightmare is to hear it....


"Ape shit" "Ballastic" and "crazy": The KVHD medical record glossary....Part One: Dr. Martin getting poison control to do his job.




Part two, we hear Dr. Martin flat out give incorrect information to the the poison control operator. Martin is heard saying, "she was in a week ago," (no I wasn't). If anyone can make sense of Dr. Martin write to me and I'll add your comments to the responses I've already received.




Again, a "top notch" doctor such as Dr. Martin who I had to complain to the hospital, told me he didn't believe in "white blood cell tests." Then I assume he believes in only the tests that he wants to, or he isn't making any sense. In fact, they didn't seem to believe in Bradycardia either, but rather, they did believe in making monkeys out of a large organization called Poison Control.




I am not completely researched yet, but it seems Dr. Martin asked Poison control if they should admit me even if the heart rate returns to normal. Now Cathy Marquart doesn't even know that she's talking to a doctor and even asks with a serious tone if Martin is a "doctor." But Poison control is giving the ORDERS....based on Martin's confused tale of my health.



Then Poison control called back to see how everything went after speaking to the "doctor" earlier, and the nurse who administered the Narcan without telling me, admits to them that the Narcan didn't go so well...we had to give her more drugs...she went "ballistic" which was the term used in my records. Now what does it mean when a patient in hospital is written as "ballistic?" It means she was under "stress."




ER Director, Dr. Sacapano, receives the final phone call from Poison Control. At this point there may have "been a mistake" as there's a line in the transcript where Sacapano admits the problem isn't coming from the medication...What, why it was an emergency?




Next up: No help? How to stake your claim....with the rest of the community...It's a problem for us all to solve.

Why the Lake Isabella Community lacks vital information on local hospital: KVHD

Special meeting on KVHD strategic planning...What does the local media plan to say? Another product review from the Kern River Valley....


Local reporter, for the Kern Valley Sun Newspaper, Sue Barr, showed up last year at a "special" Kern Valley Healthcare District board meeting during the heat of August leading up to the hospital's caper to obtain a tax payer bail out on their debt with a GOB called "Measure G."

Today, the district is threatening to unveil it's strategic plan at another special meeting in August, coincidentally, as the board selected a company to do another in a series of reports that are meant to offer new and improved ideas to the hospital which has been in default on its lingering debt.


Due to the fact that nobody from the Sun ever shows up for these special meetings, last year I knew instantly that Barr was attending to report on the board vote for the tax measure and it had to be expected to pass to bring her there.

My best guess is that Barr likely knew the agenda behind the agenda, that the board was huddling together to put a tax hike on the ballot.

Barr, spent much time around the water cooler as information such as knowledge of the real costs, the potential negative impact, were being batted around by the board, and it's bond sales company, Caldwell, Flores and Winters.


Where did the story go?

None of the information ended up in the newspaper as many key elements needed to make a decision by voters were left out of the weekly tabloid.

Though the information included such issues as potential loss of administrative jobs as Beedle spoke of debt insurer Cal Mtg. who was waiting in the wings for a 20 million dollar GOB promised by the hospital, again, none of this was published anywhere else but on this blog.

Nobody except the small audience and participants knew the board and administration tried to get the bond quietly on the ballot in private but due to inflammation of the joint powers, (KVHD and Cal Mtg.) it failed at this meeting too and they had to drag their bond in front of the concerned community at a "regular board meeting."

But I bet you didn't know that.

How do you get your information?

When I wrote for the Kern Valley Sun many years ago, I realized the importance of having local oversight in the form of a "news"paper. There is another newspaper in town, the "Kern River Courier" but they have had little to do with the hospital in terms of news, but they did accept complimentary materials and advertising.

In truth, the Courier did not want to take letters to the editor for a period of time if they were about the hospital. It's too bad, but recently they published a nice piece on the hospital accomplishments. Due to the lack of understanding that these are basically paid PR pieces that show up occasionally, again you get no real workable information.

People used to care...

I observed the participation, and criticism, of local readers and it made it seem promising that the community cared about it's newspaper and the information it put out.

That is no longer the case.

Likely the Sun will show up for this strategic "event" today, as they covered a bit of it already, but what they never talked about and never showed up for, was the meeting with attorney, David Weinstein.

Shunning the free advice

Here we had in our corner for three hours an attorney who was willing to explain to an uninformed public about the various options the hospital has as it is up against the wall financially.

There was no reporter from the Sun, the moon or the stars at this presentation, only a few gathered in the audience know what was said during that meeting. And of course, there's the audio tape I listened to with perked ears.

One particular moment captured was the question of whether this attorney and his firm, would be a match for the "big guys" at Cal Mtg.

Well, Cal Mtg. has an array of defenses and probably a list of justifications hanging on the fridge in the lunch room, but what they don't want is visibility. They are a company which is off the radar for the average community member, and they are also something of a used car dealership in they sell to anyone, but under what terms?

There's a very timely loan situation which took place in between the vote to bring in David Weinstein for an informational gathering, and the sudden seven million coming from yet another deal with Cal Mtg. Weinstein's visit was put off several times, while the loan papers were in the oven, and once that was accomplished Weinstein finally made the trip to the valley.

At this point the information or analysis of hospital financial standing, was different as this loan went through prior to his arrival.

What would he have said had the hospital told him, we don't know what to do with our current situation and we would like to get out from under Cal Mtg.'s program? You see the board and administrators are working for Cal mtg. and the interests of that agency and the conflict of interest with this valley, the keeper of the debt.

It's our debt when it's said and done. When we vote in board members for the hospital we, the voter, resident, expect they will be working for us, just as any political position, senate, congress, etc.

And when the elected board doesn't follow thru on their promises, or are found to be inept, this is when the news becomes so important as people need some cold, hard information. .

Since our media are paid directly by KVHD in terms of advertising, it will be no surprise to see a story pop up on the strategic planning meeting which took place this afternoon. As long as it is positive...


Scott Costa, shown above covering a recent meeting, also known on this blog as "Smooth News" is your other option for news and information on the only radio station covering this community.

Costa came on the information wagon with sparse supplies of hospital history, but did owe the community some research into the hospital, but there was some conflict there as board member, Bob Jamison, shown above in front of Sue Barr, is the engineer for the radio station.

Most of his reports I caught, anyway, were always modestly inaccurate as well as missing most of the major issues the community would need to understand to allow them to decide whether or not to use the healthcare services provided by KVHD...or even to pay more property taxes.

Sadly, during the election results, Smooth News reported that the bond measure passed due to his lack of knowledge regarding the 2/3 vote needed for general obligation bonds.

For several weeks people thought the bond had won. They even wrote me to say how sad it was that the hospital won the bond. I told them that there was an errant report on the radio causing the confusion.

That in and of itself tells the tale of how important it is to have a good source of information such as now that we face some serious issues at the hospital, it's failing rural health clinic, the lawsuits, the quizzical new loan with Cal Mtg. as well as even potential collapse.

Where was the last article?

Noticeably missing from the last meeting at KVHD in the beginning of August, was a story about how board members were served involving the lawsuit being brought about by former employee, Surgeon, Dr. Kent Skoegerson.

According to an audience member, there was a request to hear the nature of the lawsuits, and acquire paperwork associated with it.

Follow the crumbs to the truth about what is happening with this surgeon and his former employer, because you won't find it in the KV Sun or broadcast on the radio.

Two thumbs down

Yes, the Sun can attack private citizens with their police reports and ultra zoom pictures of defendants right smack on the front of the paper, but they won't be doing that to their advertisers. This is what I have observed in terms of my regular media review.

If you hear about this special meeting in the paper or on the radio, you will likely hear what the hospital wants us to hear...like I said, advertising dollars are opinions of their own...

How strategic will it be: KVHD special meeting

Strategic specialist needs special board meeting

The Kern Valley Healthcare District "strategic plan" will be revealed this afternoon August 25th at 3 pm in the director's conference room at the hospital where board members will take action on the analysis recently completed by Michael Philps and company.

After 22 years of costs and meetings to try and bring the healthcare district out of its debt and into a brighter future, another in a long line of reports will be unveiled today. This one will be interesting as the district recently had a report completed/started last year done by another company, HFS, who was invited in to manage the district's default on it's debt.

Though HFS was brow beaten by Chet Beedle, KVHD CFO, and Dr. Robert Gross, board member, they still completed a financial analysis for the district. The CFO and board member were not impressed, and told the community there were "giant holes" in their report.

Though HFS pursued a more urgent analysis, this report is called a "strategic plan" which is slightly different but still covers many of the components addressed by HFS last year as the district slid into a deep default with debt insurer, Cal Mtg.

With several reports lying around on table tops and in folders in my house, it will be interesting to compare these previous strategic plans and financial outlook reports to this latest one about to come out of the "crackerjack" box.

What is the prize that makes this report different from the other reports? Planning or really goal setting, projecting future costs, and educating your board members on how to even implement new ideas, has been done before, again and again and again...

Actually, I take that back, open planning has it's place in any business, watching market trends, following technology, "finding government grants for projects," (they failed sorely there, as ARRA monies were dis-missed and excuses made while the district opted for a tax increase instead: gambled and lost): but the hospital has never followed through on it's obligations created in these reports.

Philps said he cannot guarantee the board and administration will actually utilize the information he collected, as the company does not have an on-going contract, but he has recommended that the issues he has outlined be addressed at every board meeting. (He might want to stay around a little longer and hold the board's hands as they figure out how to actually implement these ideas not just pay for them)

After nine months of waiting for the results of this new strategic plan, board members will be gathered this afternoon to take action on the report, which is merely a vote.

If I were to put together a strategic plan, my first idea would be "not to pay for anymore strategic plans" and get the board members into a classroom so they can be of use, not just used.

As the question always is with KVHD, will they and even "can they" follow through, and will the information contained in the plan be new or unique, or will we still be hearing the same ideas bandied around for two decades?

(Now if number one on this report is a "GOB" or tax rate increase, we will know, it's the same thing, just another day. )

Special meeting (why?) today at 3 pm..."Planning our future: who should we trust?" (I gave the meeting that title as board member, Dr. Robert Gross, DO, raised that very question while sullying the reputation of HFS)

Medical records, test results, refills of prescriptions, billing: Where are our records KVHD?

Most people I talk to who are caught in the healthcare system due to chronic illness or even longer than expected healing times, will tell you that the standard routine is all about making appointments for care, testing, filling prescriptions, and paying the bill.

But in the last few months I have collected a number of stories from patients within the Kern Valley healthcare district who complain all of these basic needs are not being met.

Last year I had to be the one to find out that the radiology department was seemingly holding on to records and they were not being sent out in a timely fashion as the new CEO, Tim McGlew, had only recently reported the successful transition to Truxtun Radiology and how well everything was going.

Taking a test is useless if your doctor or you do not know the results.

I had a cold, a summer cold, and for whatever reason I was sent for an x-ray at the KVHD radiology department to look in on my lungs for possible pneumonia which would fetch more money than a simple dose of over the counter Benadryl.

Not wanting to disappoint my doctor as he had spent those few seconds scribbling down the test request, I went and had the test done.

My doctor told me I would have the results the following day. Tim McGlew told the community that results would be quicker or actually "were" quicker with the new radiology contractor.

I hacked and coughed for a week and then realized I had heard nothing from the doctor on my test results. Not that I thought I had something horrible other than a cold, but since we spent the government's Medicare money to run the tests, I thought I might like to know the results.

At first, I assumed they would call me if there was a problem, then I questioned that logic as I have never seen that sort of fastidious care thus far, so I called.

Suddenly, everyone was looking for my x-ray and even the hospital which did the test, had to spend time in the search for test results.

When they arrived, I was informed that they DO NOT have one day x-ray service outside of the ER.

This was a minor error

In this case I was correct I had a cold, and the insurance paid money to find this out. But in other situations that have come to my attention, this problem is not only irritating but possibly dangerous. (Not possibly, I'm a textbook case right now)

This single mother had many tests run as she had been sick with gastric problems for what she claims is four years. The insurance again paid for all of this and the tests have been run multiple times, but the communication between all the parties, doctors, referrals, test results, were never able to come together.

After four years, she has a surgery scheduled that could have been potentially treated with medication in the early stages, but now has reached a point where more money is out the door, to bring in the surgery portion of the story.

She could have had complications, the risks are now growing, along with the bill.

The problem is one that can harm a person to the point of death, though unlikely, but it is a great big light bulb for those in the industry to consider more closely.

I called it in

You will hear that phrase regularly as those of us who have to regularly gather our medications often have to hunt down our doctors.

The doctor writes the prescriptions and you read on the back that you must take it a certain way and not stop without contacting the doctor as there might be some curious side effects: such as your blood pressure skyrocketing or your heart beat nose diving.

A main complaint I have gathered and experienced is the last dose effect. If you're not all together such as myself, and have no ability to organize, you find yourself down to the last pill at 10 pm and you can't find a pharmacy less than an hour away.

And you forgot there are no refills. In this area this can become a big problem and though I often call and scare the poor pharmacy techs I manage mostly to keep the medications going. But there are people who have lost insurance or changed insurance or don't have a generic, are caught in the KRV prescription trap.

I've seen people think they can stop something and suddenly find they are sick again, and we again pay for that mistake.

Sometimes small mistakes become big

The hospital knows it has communication problems even within it's own doors, five feet away, or whispered in their ears, they are not hearing with any acuity.

Why should we pay for this business when it is not working and therefore unsafe? I'm sure the hospital would love to have a great big GOB of 20 million to talk about how the problem is they have no money: the problem is they think they have no other problems.

Yes, they have money problems due to imprudent spending, just like their biggest brother, the federal government, but they also have let down their patients and put people in danger.

The federal government has a problem in that they are supposed to pay for all the mistakes made by their little bothers, such as KVHD, a public healthcare district, with elected board members.

Imagine the exponential effect of all the hospital's taking Mediare and Medicaid adding just a few tests or visits on the bill.

For instance, I found out over the weekend (many things) but one of which is that I have been getting pregnancy tests. I know about the birds and the bees, but I also know I had a hysterectomy.

Why doesn't KVHD know that?

They were also recently looking for my appendix which is probably decayed by now as it was removed when I was 12.

Paid for by the Government against waste and fraud....

Remember when I said I knew it was a cold?

I know myself and I'm sure most people feel that way, as I said I knew last year when I was getting a cold that it was a cold. I didn't think I was dying, I was uncomfortable, and my nose plugged, but I knew.

Now when I say making a small mistake can be larger than you first imagined, picture this: I have been seen for a cardiac problem twice detected by KVHD ER staff and equipment, and it was never reported to me.

I have to make a quick phone call as my emergent condition 10 months ago was only uncovered in the past few days...make sense? No, it sure as heck doesn't.

More soon, including the poison control tape you must hear....

A message from Laura Hart

From the human side

There are a few things I want to share with you that have changed my thinking over the course of the last few days.

It's out of the ordinary for me to do this, but I am interested in trying to communicate my message in the most precise manner when I write the articles for the blog, but now I have some personal things to say, which I need to say.

I've written about my recent healthcare nightmare at the Kern Valley Healthcare District Hospital ER, which has left me struggling daily to do the simplest of tasks. I didn't, however, expect to be struggling to write. But I am.

Some of the posts you will see beginning at the end of January 2011, were meant at that time to tell the story of what happened to me, contemporaneously, so there would be a record of the events. I cringed as I looked back over the materials I put up during this duration, but it is the truth for me, and that is why I am leaving them up.

But there are other things I do want to retract

I am not afraid of making mistakes, because I use "pencil" and correct them. And failure can be a friend if you listen to the lesson, so I am perking my ears up daily. Had Thomas Edison thrown out the light bulb because someone told him he was "crazy" we wouldn't be having this simple communication right now.

My main goal with this KVHD investigation has always been the safety of patients at this hospital and the removal of all people and things that keep this from coming to fruition.

Recently though, I have begun to recognize that my method has lead to some mistakes and hurt feelings. That was not part of the goal.

As the military calls it, "friendly fire."

I ran into a young paramedic when I went to dinner with a friend recently. She was one of the paramedics who was on my deck after I had passed out from a stroke related to a head injury I had on the side of a bath tub in December of 2007.

After a week of thinking about it, I am not happy with myself in the way I reacted to her. As I swung open the door to the restaurant, I looked around and saw her sitting there. She saw me too, and made a smirk.

Before I knew it, I said something to her about the way she handled the situation that day on my deck, but my mockery was not nice. I regret that. And I know I could have done something better like simply tell her I was not okay with her behavior that day, and then explain why.

When I sat down at the table, my friend asked me if I was okay, as my chest was pounding, my face red, and my eyes steeled. I said, "honestly no, I'm not okay."

I was having a reaction to the image of past events and I did not handle it the way I wish I had. There are those who do deserve a good round of truth, but this was not the way I normally handle young people. I usually can decide what is important to address and how to address it in a fashion that is understood.

Lately that polite talent has been difficult.

Then the hospital

After reflecting about that situation for a week, I began to realize I had said things I would likely not have said prior to my 9/11 at the hospital.

On Sunday, after getting my daily ICEE, my dog and I were heading home, when I suddenly wanted to stop by the hospital. I drove my car into the Rural Health Clinic parking lot and sat there looking at both buildings...and wondering what happened to me in the past eight years here.

I stared down at the ER, I simply couldn't take my eyes off of it. I felt fear which surprised me. The memories started flooding my mind about not just the recent past, but the past six years.

Out of the blue, I suddenly wanted to talk to somebody I have known since I came to this valley. Somebody I realize I trust. But I had hurt this person and I didn't know if I would be able to talk about it and make amends.

But I got the courage up to make the call and I'm very glad I did. I was not wrong, this was a person I could trust, and a person who does care, always did. And this person was straight up with me, which is what I expect and respect.

Taking a chance on people after what has happened at the hospital in the last few years, is a struggle for me, I prefer to stay within the security of my friends and family, but I realize if I'm to survive or even gain anything from this, I have to be willing to take a risk to trust again.

Thankfully, what happened was like good cardiology: it helped my heart. And I have implemented a few safeguards in my life to try and become more cognizant about my words which have sometimes caught certain people in the crossfire.

The beat goes on

I have used rhetoric, hyperbole, satire, sarcasm, logic, and video to take on Goliath and I still have not been able to make my case properly so that there is some true justice for those who truly deserve it.

The blog is going video for your information and illumination. You are about to hear and see some of what I saved for a rainy day.

Get out your umbrellas...by gosh it's pouring out there.

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?

The story behind the KVHD blog picture: Board Blanket Bingo

The Brown Act: When caught on the spot, stand and stare...


Kern Valley Healthcare District Board member, and my mentor (explanation later) Robert Jamison, looks a bit piqued as my camera filmed a Brown Act violation that followed a highly contentious meeting last July regarding the hospital's pitiful attempt to have the community pay for the financial maladies ailing the healthcare district with a property tax hike: Measure G.

During this quickly assembled "special meeting" generally unattended by community members and reporters, it was evident the supporters wanted some privacy to put the measure on the election ballot away from the general board meeting where they would push thru a CEO raise and freeze the salaries of employees, while asking the community for it's money.

After this contentious meeting, I walked out without my camera in the confusion. A woman offered to go retrieve it, and when she returned, she said there are four board members in the room together.

I grabbed my camera and went back to the room, and when I opened the door to the board room, I was blocked by the administrative secretary, "Hidey Sage," with a food cart. (And can you believe I wasn't even offered a sandwich?) So, I took a few pix and went around the other door, as others slipped out, and found board members, Bob Jamison, Victoria Alwin, and Bradley Armstrong lagging behind.

As stood right in front of them, Bob Jamison, knew exactly what I had finally caught on film. Oh, there was a witness who spoke of the "sticky three" meetings, or I should say private meetings, prior to board meetings, where Jamison, and his former team, Barbara Casas, Bradley Armstrong, made their own quorum during the power struggle of 2006 and 2007.

This person spoke directly to the investigator from the county, giving details, but as I have reported and we will speak of again shortly, the Kern County Grand Jury has denied ever receiving a complaint from me and other witnesses back in 2007...when the trail was still fresh.

Had the county followed up with more than a recent glance at the hospital which resulted in the same advice: have the community pay your debt just like they did in Tehachapi...our hospitaless, bond indented neighbors...(Great ideas, why didn't anyone think of a bond, property tax increase? Oh, yeah, they did for the last 20 years. Ask anyone in Tehachapi about the taxes they pay...)

Look for the follow up: "Kern Kounty Korruption"

Complaints to the cook can be hazardous to your health: the death threats/HIPAA/medical contacts

(This is a tape of two phone calls recorded from a voice mail on a phone. One received after I complained about treatment in the Kern Valley Healthcare District ER. The second one came in five hours after I left a message for a doctor at the ER to call me as I had heard his taped conversation with poison control)

My master plan: Watch Out!

After years of attacks on my character, intentions, and information, I had only begun to put together the case that should have been easily opened and closed by the people employed or elected to keep us safe from harmful healthcare practices: The Department of Public Health, Office of Inspector General, the Kern County Grand Jury, the Department of Justice, the IRS, county DA, local representatives and the state Medical Board, amongst others paid for these services.

I am severely injured due to a visit starting at the Kern Valley Healthcare District ER on 1/20/2011. I'm not up to going over the details of the events again at this time, but you can catch it on the blog if you like "horror stories."

Somebody told me, "don't let them see you sweat," and I disagreed completely. I said if it's the truth, then that's how it's told. What reaction I get is insignificant, what I can remember is vital.

My master plan is to continue to tell the truth, and that's a powerful tool as it's the only thing that most people can remember.

Liars, who concoct stories, will not be able to recall their diversions from the truth. I don't divert from the truth, I embrace it, for some of us it's a way of living, so I don't "sweat anything." And that is what gives me hope that the prevaricators will slip up and forget what they said a week, month, year ago, years ago? The more time passes the more molasses to try and recall.

The craven

After my ordeal with KVHD ER and transfer to a Bakersfield hospital on 1/20/11, I finally came home to find another nightmare: my medical contacts were breached.

If you read the story on 4/10/11, I believe you will see I make mention that some of my medical contacts received death threats.

The reason that the coward who made the threats could do this, is that I had made a list of people to call in case I was unable to make medical decisions for myself, in fact, it was in December 2010 this was done, only a month before this incident. It was my unsuccessful effort to protect myself.

Not an advanced directive, but a directive for care, for me. Nobody in my family was called when I was in the ER, appraised I was transferred or even told about my condition by KVHD staffers. But an obviously deviant person gained access to my records and began calling the contacts, including my 91 year-old neighbor who thought I was dead.

The truth will speak for itself

With my nefarious master plan of continuing to tell the truth, I am putting up the tapes that go along with the events I have described.

We are starting with the death threats and will move on to "Poison control" and "Sienna Wellness" to solidify my "truth."

If you recognize this voice, gosh, give me a call...or not.

(As is usual with computers and seemingly competing programs, I have had a sound problem reported. When I can, I will attempt to make the audio portions clearer)

Steve Russo HFS: What happened to this report? And more KVHD conundrums including the much awaited strategic planning "plan"

Money for nothing

Down the rabbit hole, or on this blog, I have collected decades worth of evidence showing how the Kern Valley Healthcare District has mishandled it's business "affairs" over the last 20 plus years.

Though it began for me, as I have described in the summary, as a case of elder abuse, and mishandling of law enforcement to protect the patients living in the KVHD nursing center, it turned into a more complex case the California Department of Justice simply did not want to handle.

That was only the beginning, as money which is now so scarce in these parts, (rural blight) went into the pockets of those who had contributed to the downfall of the small hospital and Rural Health clinic.

Contractors: Bernie and his PR company got 60K dollars for doing something undisclosed.

HFS a financial firm who put together a plan to aid the hospital in default with creditor, insurer, Cal Mtg, and help pull them out of the ditch they are stuck in from years of imprudent spending, was a 75K dollar boondoggle as board members complained that HFS had left holes KVHD had to repair in the report.

It was reported only after that meeting in December 2010, that HFS gave KVHD back 40K dollars for, what we can only assume, as board member, Dr. Robert Gross DO, said was a lot of mistakes.

"The finance committee found a lot of holes-a lot of mistakes, large mistakes," Gross told the audience about the report.

He added, which I think is a good line, but not pertaining to HFS, more like KVHD: "So do we really want to trust them with planning our financial future, when they had giant holes and we paid top dollar for that?"

Again, what did they pay for? And why did they, meaning KVHD and Cal Mtg., not take action against HFS for what they called a report full of mistakes in public and on film?

I have the report, or maybe even "a" report and I would like to know what parts are the mistakes and how did KVHD who hand picked HFS to do this "operations report" as the hospital was floating checks, and not checking to see if they were still afloat, while they went into default.

Strategic planning...more unnecessary costs?

The CFO, Chet Beedle, and CEO, Tim McGlew, both supported the hiring of a strategic planning group. However, the survey which cost the hospital 15K dollars, has yet to be unveiled after 8 months, and those who attended the sessions were directed to only make inquiries which were positive, according to owner, Michael Philps.

However, Beedle's resume, suggests, or really states that he is an "expert in strategic planning for rural healthcare districts." Again, this makes no sense, to spend money when you already have hired personnel who does this sort of project...and is an expert.

And there have been some really intensive plans created before this one, at a cost too, and yet most of the information gathered never was utilized, therefore more wasted time and money.

When asked how it will be different this time around, Philps answered that his company suggests that the board address the planning issues from his survey at every meeting.

We have yet to even see the first draft.

When the selection process took place last year, Board member Kay Knight, asked why HFS was not in the running to do the planning and she asked the CEO if he had talked to them about reducing the costs for a strategic makeover.

McGlew reported he has spoken to HFS about their costs, which were submitted at 20K dollars, and the two other players, Focus and Execute, bid 13K dollars, while Philps wanted 15K dollars.

The contract went to Philps, as McGlew said he spoke to other CEO's who have used that particular firm. But his reason was the money: grant money.

"Their figure was 15K but Focus and Execute was 13K-so but again these guys went out to find grant monies to offset some of these costs..." McGlew explained.

What is wrong with this picture?

First, KVHD had a default with Cal Mtg. last summer, or actually since the "80's" but Cal Mtg. gave the sinking hospital the choice of the company that would do another in a long line of reports costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they chose HFS.

HFS we were told would report to the community about their findings, but this never happened. Instead, at the December 2010 KVHD board meeting, we found out from Dr. Robert Gross that HFS made "mistakes."

The HFS contract we were told cost 75K dollars, and that payment was coming from a line of credit backed by Cal mtg. from West America Bank.

Yet, somehow, HFS, was selected to be in the running for the strategic planning contract. Why would you even consider a company that is supposed to have made "large mistakes?" (Dr. Gross asked that question and I think it was a worthy one)

How many wishes were granted?

Then you have the issue of Philps and the grant money they grabbed to help KVHD offset costs, said the top administrator. First, at the meeting McGlew reported Philps had obtained the grant money themselves.

In a phone interview, I congratulated Mr. Philps on garnering grant money to help KVHD save a few dollars on their latest planning session. Then I asked him exactly how he went about the process with this grant money and if the other companies were also doing this.

Philps answered most of my questions, but would not answer that particular question and directed me to speak with McGlew. I told him I got an answer from McGlew, and he said they gave over their annual 9K dollar SHIP grant monies: These are monies that go to the hospital, not to firms vying for a contract or job.

At the July 2011 meeting, only a few weeks ago, we heard that finally, there will be a presentation with the data gathered by Philps. But last year we were told we would be seeing the HFS report too, and that never happened.

Will KVHD have to fill in the "holes" in the strategic planning report too? What if the report is not what they want us to hear, can we get our money back such as with HFS?

Steve Russo of HFS was asked about the problems with the KVHD report, but offered no explanation.

But then nobody could offer a lucid explanation as to why HFS was not fired and another company brought in to finish this operations analysis. I don't understand why KVHD was fixing the report for another company, especially when they were in default caused by their own mistakes, as the company was to provide an objective analysis.

Mind boggling isn't it?

Dr. Kent Skoegerson or Betagroup liability: a clarification

My real question is the Kern Valley Healthcare District "Human Escort them out" Department

Someone asked me about Kern Valley Healthcare District Surgeon, Dr. Kent Skoegerson; I was asked for details as to what a Google search unearthed recently.

First, in cases where doctors or healthcare personnel lose their licenses, there are rarely details to share for those of us surfing the government sites.

But, I clarified to this person that Dr. Skoegerson has nothing to do with the point of my post. So, I obviously didn't clear the message.

I have seen, and many of these documents are posted on this blog, resumes and credentials that don't add up to either reality, or there are even truly misleading and in one certain case completely obvious, that these people are not what their handy stories actually say.

Why have so many slipped through the cracks in HR, or Human Remorse Department?

The process of hiring is different depending on the level of the position you are fishing for. How could a CEO come in with a diploma mill resume? How can a CFO say he has the experience in certain areas and then never complete them? Are all the positions filled with a cursory look?

Then you have the board of directors selecting the administration which would qualify as either another set of eyes or possibly total reliance on the HR department. And even possibly collusion as the employment ends with a vote.

Regarding Dr. Kent Skoegerson

Dr. Skoegerson obviously had something go wrong, seriously so. But none of us, including me, were there or know what happened.

What we do know is that KVHD was desperate for a surgeon as they needed one to qualify as a full fledged hospital.

We also know that they were choosing from doctors who had liability problems. The hospital keeps liability insurance through Betagroup and this outfit decides whether a person in such an important position, (they are all important positions as healthcare requires a team effort, including the patients...for later) can be covered properly by their insurance.

A surgeon was turned away because of "liability" issues prior to the arrival of Dr. Skoegerson.

The question for Betagroup is what was so different in the two cases of the surgeons of the KRV? What sort of research is done, and do they automatically avoid errors say that happened in other states?

Who and what is the problem?

Dr. Skoegerson has done a small number of surgeries compared to other hospitals, but he has done this for almost six years.

Why now does the KVHD board believe he should be terminated from his contract?

Doctors are hard to find, so take any you can get past Betagroup's obviously stringent standards?

Again, the area I'm interested in is the hiring practices of the KVHD administration and board, their HR managers, and their insurance company.

I personally saw Dr. Skoegerson for a surgery and some tests, and never had a problem. My experience with him was favorable.

However, I didn't think to research his background prior to our surgery, and the government allows only so much information to be included, that I would not be able to decide without more information.

If you had the choice between a doctor with a spotless record, which I believes still means nothing as you don't know why it's spotless, they could have used Windex, or a doctor with a background which offers a negative showing, you would likely believe in the doctor without a blemish.

You deserve the choice, but here's the problem with that: I frankly don't know if doctor do nothing wrong's time will shortly come and it will be me. And government websites are as dangerous a place to judge as they offer only what scant information is possible.

I don't trust these government agencies or websites and know nothing more of Dr. Skoegerson than my personal, short term, experience which went well. That's not up on the government site...why not? That's a question for these oversight agencies to answer: why aren't patients part of the the "healthcare democracy?"

Why don't we write records of our visits? Or are even required to do so? Well, the American Medical Association protects its doctors and they don't even like the current government program where certain "spies" call primary care offices to find out if they are offering enough care to the community, along with issues about sliding scale and insurance. Oh my, terrible stuff protecting the patients too...

Expand patients rights and conquer the problem.

The question remains why Betagroup has allowed positions to be filled by uncertain professionals, and we are only finding out about it now after years of employment.

How we obtain our care should be done with care, and we should be allowed to know, but know more, so we can make a decision as denying patients this information is borderline criminal.

Would I have had Dr. Skoegerson do my surgery again knowing what I know now? Very possibly as I don't trust how the government is protecting us with scant information, when Dr. Skoegerson should be able to at least respond publicly to his records.

Why have more liability KVHD?

This kind of logic defies sense, considering the long list of cases hanging over the healthcare district, which may include paying off Dr. Skoegerson. Many can be seen on the Kern County Superior court site. Simply click on civil or criminal, and put in Kern Valley Healthcare District, and see what you find.

How can they afford this?

Dr. Jack Nadler leaving Kern Valley Healthcare District?

Goodbye to Dr. Jack Nadler

The Rural health clinic maybe losing long time doctor, Jack Nadler, as word around the hospital is the busy employee of the Kern Valley Healthcare District maybe moving out of the valley and onto new challenges.

Nadler, MD., has been the mainstay of the clinic, but recently patients have complained of long waits to get appointments with the doctor, and difficulty refilling prescriptions in a timely manner, as well as the attention needed for the more complicated patients.

(According to the Federal Government, anyone on Medicare or Medi-cal is due health care equal to those on private insurance. Can a short staffed office really take proper care of the patient?)

Cuts to staff, and the loss of Stacey Bohn, Nurse Practitioner, last month, leaves the clinic short handed and with a long list of patients to care for, the transition may not be smooth for the district or their customers, or actually I should say just more rugged than usual.

Rumors flew as Bohn left suddenly, and the talk was she was unhappy with her pay and schedule, but recently it was noted by someone on the inside that she may have been in disagreement with the recent vote to remove KVHD surgeon, Dr. Kent Skoegerson.

Where did Skoegerson come from?

Skoegerson, who was a specialist in bariatric weight loss surgery, and may have done at least four lap band procedures at the Kern Valley hospital late last year, according to the administration, research shows the surgeon was involved in a serious lawsuit due to the death of a patient in Nevada.

Records from Nevada show the surgeon had lost his license in the state prior to his arrival at the Kern Valley Hospital.

Skoegerson was second choice due to liability problems

Former CEO, Pamela Ott, and CFO, Chet Beedle, were searching desperately for a surgeon in 2005, and prior to Skoegerson, brought in another surgeon who had a background that prevented him from working at the hospital as the liability would have been too great.

Somehow Skoegerson, who according to state records easily brought up in a google search, had some serious licensing issues, but he got by the liability company used by KHVD, called Beta group, and was hired on.

With these new revelations as to the past of Dr. Skoegerson, it certainly warrants an investigation and a phone call to Beta group as to their standards, and Dr. Skoegerson should be allowed to comment if he so desires. The offer is open here.

We have seen the resumes from some of the past employees, but also current in some cases as the Human resources department, the administration and the board let all of these things slip and the only excuse is denial.

There have been diploma mill education, claims to have expertise in areas that are being contracted out like strategic planning, a new program which has allowed them to school a person who needs credentials to properly hold an important administrative position, so it's no surprise that more digging is necessary.

Dr. Skoegerson and Dr. Gross

Currently, there has been word there is a potential for a lawsuit, as Dr. Skoegerson was voted out in a 3 to 2 vote.

One of those votes was cast by Dr. Robert Gross DO, who is a board member, hospitalist, and owner/operator of the Sienna Wellness Institute.

Gross, who at one time was hiring his own attorney to fight KVHD over their "handshake" agreement that the district would utilize his new business, Sienna Wellness, for specialists, and even an urgent care.

As is common with KVHD none of that happened. Dr. Gross did get his clinic, and won a board seat which was recently contended, as certain community members contacted the elections office to begin a "recall" election against the ambitious DO.

Positive report from CFO on Rural clinic

With so many numbers being crunched as the economy crumbles on top of the hospital which spent the last five years giving raises to the upper crust and paying millions as if they have it and more on registry employees, who by the way, leave, start their own business and come back, contract, such was the case with the pharmacy and it's "Gray Matter" which will soon be addressed.

This has been standard practice at KVHD, as money was spent with no concern as valley homeowners are the ones who will pay with property taxes if the hospital cannot pay off their out of control deficit. In fact, they were ready to take your money last year on Measure G rather than do the jobs they are paid more than adequately for.

How the rural health clinic somehow is making money according to CFO Chet Beedle, as the volume was down, but somehow Beedle reported they made money. He just didn't elaborate on how that happened, in fact, Beedle looked at the audience at the last meeting on July 6, 2011, showing surprise as to the amazing feat that happened.

So, with no surgeon and only a potential lawsuit, the rural health clinic sliding behind the scale as Nadler makes his departure, major changes should be expected...

Hey JB, JB will you fight for me, Hosana hey sana ho Superstar!

Why waste your breathe moaning at the crowd, nothing can be done to stop the shouting...."Jesus Christ Superstar" by Andrew Lloyd Webber


(Jerry Brown, pictured above showing a Democratic crowd in Bakersfield exactly how much he cares about the disabled, elderly and those in need of a good education...)

Just days before the 2010 election, former California Attorney General, Jerry Brown gives a speech before a packed crowd in a pizza joint in downtown Bakersfield, next to the largest "head shop" in the city. (I'm not sure why that location other than a possible impending "bong tax")

This was election time, when Governor Brown, was making promises for change, though, we didn't know until this last week, that change for our Governor meant his own personal change.

At one time Brown came up with some dizzying ideas for change, such as removing personal taxes and replacing them with sales tax. How's that idea going? Oh, yes, no where.

During this particular election speech, (coming to Youtube soon) Brown remembered his days with Mother Theresa in India. He didn't clarify whether they just happened to be in the same country at the same time, or that he worked hand and hand, with the starving, sick and poor.

Whatever the case, he's now dropped away from his supporters in the unions, the clear need for expanded educational programs and his attitude has become one of a despot, as he has made it clear, he's the one in charge of California. (Oh, and he doesn't do dishes either)

Veto power

The democrats can't please him, the Republicans are up in arms due to threats of special elections which would only cost taxpayers more money as Brown wants the people of California to decide whether or not to tax themselves, or actually continue to tax themselves, as the "short term" tax hikes, are supposed to come to a halt this year.

What a good strategy

Instead of just saying it, "we need to continue these taxes" and getting eggs and tomatoes thrown at him, Governor Brown, has cleverly put the responsibility of continued taxes in the hands of the voters.

I suppose you could thank him for involving the people of the state in the budget, but then again, if we vote it out, he will have an excuse to cut more programs that keep some people alive, and give quality education to the children of California who will one day inherit this mess.

So, kudos Governor Brown, I say it's a brilliant plan.

Veto is so "neato"

The Governor threw out a budget that the state democrats scratched out quickly, but you and I all knew that's the plan.

Again, the pressure is on with a "budge-it" slowly coming into a political arena we may have never seen before.

This is a Governor who knows how to leverage, and the state controller is holding back the pay for the legislators until they "do their jobs."

Here is someone who is taking control of the state in a way that's not so pretty or nice even, but in a way that only Frank Sinatra could appreciate: he's doing it his way.

The veto is interesting as it allows a long time Democrat to block the move of both sides, the Republicans too. So, I predict we will see a few more vetoes before this budget is settled upon...by the Governor.

What if he can't do it

I'm old enough to remember Jerry Brown cutting out Summer School and my cousin, a young child, wrote to him and asked him to rescind the cuts as she enjoyed the program.

She recently told me the story and I asked if she ever got a response. "No, and that's why he will never get my vote." (Okay, she's almost 40 now, but she remembers, some of us do, Governor)

Now if Governor Brown had, as was his job as the state's Attorney General, really wanted to cut spending, he would have lifted another finger to look at the Kern River Valley's hospital. They are an example of failure and that is not always a bad thing.

We have to look at the failure of the Federal government, the state, and the county when it comes to imprudent spending if we are to survive this depression.

How can I trust that Governor Brown who had all the manpower of the state to cull out all the criminal and unethical activity in a small, rural, mountain hospital, which included misspending, actually squandering, but doesn't follow through?

I don't remember how many cell phones were turned off in California government offices recently, but Governor Brown can be proud that he made sure that happened.

Yet he could not handle a small hospital.

Bringing people and ideas together

One of our new Governor's promises I watch on my computer as we filmed it, is that he wanted, pre-election, of course, to bring people in to help tell him what needs to be done. People from all areas of the state were to come together so we could all assist our "superstar" in making effective changes.

Never happened. I think my name was first on the list, but I also think our "Retrocrat" was toying with us. Every move Governor Brown has made so far, is to allow one politician, himself, to usurp and monopolize the power of all the others.

He forgot KVHD

With the election behind him, and an economy that can't fill the tank so it can travel into the future, Brown missed out on opportunities to see just how a small hospital finds loopholes in it's finances, passes them out to the top tier, and ignores severe quality issues.

Simply avoiding a grievous mistake such as what our Governor did leaving a mountain community with a hospital on the brink of disaster, or just a disaster, by allowing another agency, the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development and their tumor, Cal Mtg., to financially take control seems a lot like, "collusion?"

The budget

Now, last I heard the state budget gap was around 9 billion, and I can tell you where to find some money: KVHD.

Apparently, the Kern Valley Healthcare District, had millions to spend over the past five years, and yet they are in a deep pit of denial.

In 2010, the CFO promised West America Bank that they would garner "millions" from the general obligation bond, "Measure G," and told debt insurer, Cal Mtg., that 80% of the community were supporting more taxes for the hospital.

Those overstatements lead to a line of credit which was initially said to pay off the August 2010 "old debt" payment of 800K dollars. That statement was quickly rescinded, (actually it took two months for them to come up with a ruse, but they forget they say it on video, hard to take back) and then they played dumb. (it comes easy)

This is what I don't understand

Politicians talk about doing all sorts of things, including telling the truth, but they don't follow through.

KVHD is an example of some of the most egregious financial miscalculations, fraud and abuse, so what does that make the people who are supposed to be overseeing them?

A) Criminals
B) graduates of the California educational system
C) Blind
D) inbred
E) all of the above

Answer: E

Come and get it

If there's one thing Jerry Brown said that I agree with and that is we will have reform or revolution, and the latter is looking more likely as our leaders aren't busting the "white collar gangs" rather they zero in on pot growers or certain "protestors" who not only don't parasitically drain community services, they are also part of the tax base.

White collar crime amounts to losses in billions each year, yet it has been only tepidly pursued?

I would agree with others who have tagged Brown as frugal, so how could he miss the imprudence with KVHD? This is what Brown is known for dragging out the spenders. Didn't it at least irritate his coupon clipping senses?

Where was he at KVHD when a certain CEO was being given train and plane rides, housing, along with the CFO and his long time, toll free, lair?

If Jerry Brown can reach a budget settlement that will both cut waste and promote future growth than we would have to assume he could have done that to this valley hospital. That does not bode well for any of us Californians as the hospital has been given more chances than a death row murderer...

Sierra Kings welcomes Adventist Health to Reedley in special election

Voters in Reedley change the course of their hospital's future

The Reedley Exponent reports the ailing Sierra Kings Hospital which has struggled through bankruptcy since late 2008, has recovered with the help of an overwhelming majority of voters who were unified in favor of leasing the facility to Adventist Health.

The local paper reports that voters may not have come out in droves, but their minds were made up they wanted change, and the numbers speak for themselves. The Exponent reported the initial count at 2830 for the measure, and only 116, voted against the new lease agreement.

No technical information was provided in the article regarding how this will specifically change the hospital's fate, but the Exponent reported a favorable, positive response to the news by an employee and a hospital director who see a future of happy employees and pleased patients come August when Adventist Health begins to take the helm.

History lesson

The history of the Sierra Kings district is directly related to the Kern Valley Healthcare District by way of former CEO, now elder abuse charged, Pam Ott, who stepped down from her job in May of 2007, at KVHD when the nursing center almost closed and went on to become the CEO of Sierra Kings District Hospital.

When Ott was charged with elder abuse late in 2009, board members at Sierra Kings began a bankruptcy and it has been reported in the Exponent, via interim CEO, Sandy Haskins from HFS, that monies from a General Obligation bond voters had approved for hospital expansion, were possibly misused.

And it was reported that again Ott and Sierra Kings now former CFO, were allegedly able to gain access to employee pension monies. Unfortunately, because of the bankruptcy, certain employees were unable to regain their retirement funds. No charges have been filed on Ott regarding these matters as of this time.

New day for Sierra Kings

After riding out the storm as HFS, a well known and respected (though a KVHD board member made some serious complaints) healthcare financial company, often associated with ACHD, (Association of California Healthcare Districts) as their material appears on their website, worked to get the hospital to the point it may now have a chance to begin serving it's community again.

Sierra Kings, a public healthcare district similar to KVHD only in their human resources department and taste in board members, had a collective decision made by voters to allow this lease agreement to take place and allow them to continue to progress.

It's a tough time for hospitals, especially those who have been filched

We've all heard the ant and the grasshopper story, and who survived the nasty winter what and why. In an interesting article in the California Healthcare Foundation newsletter, five hospitals who were struggling attributed their continued success through strategies such as "sustained growth in patient volume," which KVHD Chet Beedle said was the key to success.

Why look at them now...they are being supported by a thrift store run by the Auxiliary which supports their ability to even afford a hospital bed or new equipment. That thrift has a "higher census" than the hospital itself. You just can't find a parking space either.

Those same Auxiliary members have done so much for the hospital that they got promoted to a voluntary workforce, costing KVHD nothing, and sometimes overstepping by putting these volunteers into jobs they should not have been doing: such as lifting patients?

The serious differences between KVHD and success

But the other two items in the article entitled "success under duress" are of more interest. "frequent and intense monitoring of expenditures and efficiency," which cannot come close to the imprudence as has been witnessed at KVHD with "time and material" contracts, use of registry and traveling nurses, paid housing, trips for management, as well as paying some of the highest rates to administrators in Kern county.

The nut and shell game that is called KVHD finance, has been problematic for not only the hospital's future which is on thin ice, as they recently acquired basically a monthly payment plan with Cal Mtg. for monies which will not sustain the district, and not produce growth necessary to have a future.

But the final strategy for success which keep these hospital's future much brighter is to divert "heavy investment in quality improvement initiatives."

Quality...qau' li' tee': Degree or grade of excellence.

For further healthcare articles go to the California Healthcare Foundation as many interesting articles can be found here.

http://www.chcf.org/publications/2010/09/success-under-duress-how-five-hospitals-thrive-despite-challenging-payer-mix


Reedley Exponent link
http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2011/06/08/news/doc4deffb66a2ce1856510659.txt

KVHD thinking Bankruptcy? Surgeon feeling slighted: politics and medicine

December 2, 2010 the Kern Valley healthcare District board of directors voted 3 to 2 to bring in an attorney to explore options to help the ailing district to remain in business with enough money to keep the doors open and the patients safe.

It was a fight, won by three teenage girls, who asked the board why they waited so long to take action?

After one of the most contentious meetings I have seen since Pam Ott stepped down, or actually side stepped down her responsibility for the deaths of nursing home patients and her lack of knowledge or credentials to run a hospital, in May of 2007.

However, the board vote was pushed into the future, and the attorney was called after a "deal" made with Cal Mtg. the insurance company holding the bag on the hospital's old debt, was put into motion. The deal, which basically puts the burden back on the community, only offsets, and will not help as the Medicare/Medical driven hospital, will be feeling the cold shoulder from the state and federal budget very soon. Bracing for this economic disaster should have happened long ago, as our two top, high paid managers, Tim McGlew and Chet Beedle both ignored all the signs, and ignored a warning from a professional regarding jumping in on the ARRA stimulus funds which we could have had to build, expand or Chet, even pay off some debts such as Cardinal Health which used to supply the Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy.

It's too late though

I remember Chief Financial Officer, Chester Beedle, and Dr. Robert Gross DO made a joke one meeting in 2009, about the fact they don't have a "crystal ball" to see into the future.

Well duh. Get binoculars.

Here we are in early 2011 and you're trying to tell me that none of these "professionals" or "veterans of healthcare" could see the pattern that they were going down, way down, anchored by an old debt, and in technical default after spending millions of dollars trying to hide their deficiencies or "crimes" from 2007 to 2008? Only an imprudent financial manager would allow this to happen, but this person would need help from an uninformed community, and likely in collusion with the board of directors to continue to speed ahead to the giant iceberg they are about to hit.

I saw it coming and I have a visual problem

In February of 2009, I wrote up a potential deal with Cal Mtg. the insurer of the debt, and gave it to the board, administrators and our now Senator, Jean Fuller. I saw it coming two years ago. (I feel also like reminding you that I also called out that our buddy Jerry Brown then AG, was gearing up the PR for a run at the Governors mansion six months before he announced it)

Everyone was ready to begin a turn around in a timely manner as the writing was on the wall in 2009, though Beedle denied it. Then "Assemblywoman Jean Fuller" gave me her word (the word of a politician) that she believed it was a good idea and supported the effort.

Suddenly, a cold draft came from that "master of numbers" Chet Beedle who began a round of "bullying" to keep the potential meeting from taking place.

Former CEO, Rick Carter, and Brad Armstrong joined the club against such a "premature" measure like trying to solve a problem that could eventually lead to BANKRUPTCY. Current, Chairwoman of the board, out of touch with the truth, told this community in August 2010 as they were whipping up a tax bailout,"Measure G," told the equally out of touch audience that it was the fault of Rick Carter that the 2009 meeting with Cal Mtg. was shut down.

Not exactly, isn't that right Chet?

With Chet Beedle ready to pack up his retirement and head home to Apple Valley either this year or next year, depending upon what happens in the near future both financially or maybe even an investigation that could peel off the mask hiding his fiasco that has made the Kern Valley Hospital a DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY.

Beedle, who gave me his "updated" resume back in 2007, somehow worked as a "controller" in Miami in 1974, while attending Arizona State University and Wisconsin University during that same time frame, (how he could do this would be miraculous, but I have to say it's "positively" remarkable even) blew the KVHD bank roll in 2007-2008. He told Cal Mtg. (the word "told" is key here) that Sycamore Mgt. Company who came on after Ott made a run for it, was our new "management company." They took away more than 2.5 million from this hospital. They also did not "fix" the problems in the nursing center which were extensive. Why didn't we take action to regain some of our losses? Well, it could be that Beedle and the board allowed them a "time and materials" contract. We let them walk away with two years worth of debt payments for little in return. Even a child in a rudimentary math class could see the writing on the wall. But not our boy, Chet, he kept up the ruse until now or he had something to gain.

Dr. Kent Skoegerson not too happy

Skoegerson hired on during the Ott/Beedle era along with the "sticky three" quorum, board members, Bob Jamison, Brad Armstrong, and Barbara Casas, who kept the vote going their way. With no surgeon at the time, Dr. Skoegerson, a successful doctor who had extensive background in "laproscopic surgery" and he made a good living doing "weight loss" surgeries, was ready to retire. But he came to the valley according to a notes from an article I did in 2006, to help this small community, and to enjoy the lake and his motorcycle. However, there were issues such as the fact that he was no longer a hungry, young surgeon, he was at a point where he could help, but only so much...

Dr. Gross and wife Dr. Holly Spohn-Gross

Some people don't know or were not here when the Gross couple arrived in the valley with talk of "change." The young couple wanted to make this a better district, and many people believed they were going to be the one's to do it. People of the community believed in the Gross plan to such an extent that they even loaned them money to get started. Several members of the hospital board and administration, such as Bob Jamison, Pam Ott and Chet Beedle, made promises to the couple that they would share a building and bring on new "specialists" to the valley. They also had plans for an urgent care, as Pam Ott, reported in the Kern Valley Sun articles I wrote back in 2006. The situation became worse, and lawyers were brought in as a "your word and a handshake" are not something you should count on when doing business in this valley. Gross fought the hospital but it seems we did not know what his plans were for the future.

Now a board member

Chet Beedle reports in an email on this blog, that he would not hire Dr. Gross as the "hospitalist" because he was "too expensive." (like Sycamore mgt., Tracy Brown, Aspen Street Architects, or even a PR company that did nothing, and Dr. Skoegerson?) With Gross on the board of Directors, the hospitalist for KVHD, and owner/operator of Sienna Wellness Institute, he has gained power on the inside. He even went to the extent to give his backing to David Derr, posting signs at his clinic and officially "giving" Derr his backing for a board seat. Derr was elected and now he and Gross have teamed up and did the same things done to Gross during the "dark ages" five years ago: bullying. He bullied and hurt the very people who put him in power which makes him just like the people who pushed him around a few years ago. No sympathy from this blogger, since he also vowed he would NEVER mix politics and medicine. Well, I'm here to tell you, I WAS a patient of Sienna Wellness and as far as I know he had no problem with what happened to me under the care of his clinic.

Why didn't you just tell me?

In 2007, as the hospital struggled to stay open, Gross came from a board meeting as he was only attending because he had financial and obviously personal issues, with the administration, and bumped into me afterwards. He growled, "that fucking bitch" and I surprised as I was still unaware of all they were hiding, so I asked what was going on. He chastised me for believing in Ott and her gang and stormed away leaving me standing there wondering what happened to our plan to "revive healthcare."

Gross votes out Skoegerson

While on vacation recently, Dr. Kent Skoegerson, found out his contract with the hospital was voted down, and his 90 days were enacted. Chet Beedle in an unusual stance, took the side of Skoegerson, and not "new friend" Dr. Gross. Beedle, Victoria Alwin and Bob Jamison, argued to keep the surgeon, as they had no one to replace him at this juncture. But Beedle's reasons I believe are quite different. Since Skoegerson is out there fighting, words flying from all quarters, voices calling for Dr. Gross to step down or be recalled, I can tell you that Skoegerson has some "goodies" on Mr. Beedle. We all have goodies on Beedle it's just that nobody wants to hear it and many are too afraid to speak up because they want to keep their jobs and live in the valley. But Skoegerson is a long time doctor who knows to play on the best side, right...or wrong. I have no expectation that Skoegerson will uncover the Beedle, as he was part of the original game. Personally, I had a surgery with Skoegerson and he's good. As far as his business affairs, well, that's another story I'm sure will be out in the open soon.

I can do nothing but sit back and watch

I'm sure all who know me, now know that I would be up and at them if it were possible, but as I have warned this hospital is not safe. And the doctors involved in my decline are STILL WORKING THERE. The CEO who promised to help as we have all been directed to send him our complaints, did nothing to stop what did not have to happen. So, if it didn't have to happen, then why did it? Was it on purpose Doctors? My medical information has been breached, and death threats came in the day I came home from another hospital: they were calling my medical contacts. One of those contacts is my 91 year old neighbor and WWII veteran who was told by this jerk that I was dead or dying. I had been out of touch for a week, and called him to see how he was, and he said someone called him and said I was dying. Yes, I was enraged to say the least that they called him. He served his country during an honorable war, helping veterans since that time, and the hospital let this happen. Maybe even aided and abetted the calls? Nobody got another threat for over a month after I reported this incident to the hospital and police and the FBI. However, when I received a piece of evidence indicating that a certain doctor who needs to know I will NOT forget what he did, I called the hospital to see if he was there so I could speak to him about this. Six hours after I left my message suddenly another "death threat" came in after a whole month of nothing. I called the ER, and suddenly another threat. We have recorded them and reported to the police and FBI and I want this "prick" to know if you want to threaten me, please CALL ME! I don't like cowards, and this idiot who is afraid to dial my phone, will be charged with a crime. Don't think you're safe, because you're not, AND THAT IS NOT A THREAT THAT IS A WARNING.

I get calls and sometimes answer

Sadly I've received calls from many people in the last couple months with complaints and fears of the Kern Valley Hospital. I have done all I can until I find out what is going on with me. I'm injured in every way you could hurt someone. If you've had a heart attack you will know what I felt. I was given the great sensation of dying, and pain that goes with it. They slipped me a mickey and they lied to a federal agency as they were trying to get them to agree to do something very wicked. There's no question in any of our minds that have seen/heard the evidence, both laymen and medical types, that this doctor lead the agency to give the go ahead to unleash the pain. Then they refused to tell me before they gave it and for five days nobody told me what was going on. But you realize some agencies such as Department of Public Health in Bakersfield, don't play by the rules, and this is not my first attack, that came three years ago, after a head injury that sparked a stroke and then a trauma at another hospital. DPH was getting daily letters from me back then, and then even backed out on allowing me to see the nursing home records from the KVHD investigation. My friends and I were told by "now retired" DPH employee, Linda Wilkinson, I could come down on 4/1/09. It must have been April's fool day at DPH because she simply disappeared and we NEVER got to see those records, even though by law we should have.

Making a federal case out of it

After my recent incident, I returned to find my PA at Sienna Wellness who I thought at one time a decent person, but he acted like a prejudiced practitioner with no "heart." I reached out to them for help and what I got in return was more damage. It was icing on the cake and then they would add candles as Tim McGlew and the PA in a conference call, tried to bully me. They gave me advice that was immediately refuted by the people they were trying to pawn me off on so they could slip away unnoticed. The PA made remarks that are just as "illegal" as if he made racial slurs. He said some very discriminatory remarks about me being bi-polar, one of my disabilities. He went on to be even more crass and arrogant by telling me that it's "women doctors" and "women" who prescribe in error natural type thyroid remedies. (Gee, where did he get that information is there a prejudice data bank for male PA's only?) He told the office that he was afraid to see me that I might have a gun. And he went on to talk about my "emotionally cracked condition" leading to me shooting people. I was aghast that this was being said not only in my presence, but in the company of the staff. To assuage your fears, I don't have any designs to shoot someone, in fact I'm trying to protect you right now and you don't even know it. I didn't have a gun, but I have a disability which has kept me from being able to get proper health care. However, feeling threatened I did bring something with me that day to protect myself: a tape recorder. Sienna Wellness needs to deal with the truth and not your word against mine, which has been damaged so badly that I had to get the tape so there was no question I'm not exaggerating.

Bankruptcy was not the objective

As I said in December of 2010, three teenage girls with more sense than the whole board, and the local media, told the "emperor" he had no clothes. Instead of listening to the insight of these bright, young ladies, they placated all of us with a vote they had no intention of following through on: sure bring on the attorney. No date was set, yet when it was, it was cancelled, and then word leaked out that Beedle and Mcglew had made a deal with Cal Mtg. to in debt the district with another deal: this time a strange type of loan, bail out, or whatever you want to call it. The rumors flew that the attorney was called to bankrupt the hospital, but what these gossip mongers didn't know was that he was being called to answer questions about potential actions the hospital could take to remain in operation: such as negotiation.

After all of that, they said the word: Bankruptcy

At the April board meeting that famous word that started rumors flying back in 2000, bankruptcy, has come around again. I wonder how Cal Mtg. feels about it, since they just gave KVHD their "last chance" deal? But you see that we could have handled this two years ago, obtained ARRA funds, brought on a CEO for at least 60 to 70 thousand dollars cheaper, got rid of the old guard on the board, and turned Beedle into the authorities, WE WOULD SURVIVE THIS DEPRESSION. Our chances are getting slimmer and slimmer, and complaints from patients and contractors, budget cuts, could sink this ship in less the a few months. You know what I think: Let it go...Don't bail it out which will help Chet Beedle retire happily back to Apple Valley and he can laugh his way out of this mess.

Why? Because this community played the fool for too long and now we are at the end. They bring on the attorney for what? They made the deal with Cal Mtg. and sold it to the people who don't understand the politics of healthcare. You bought it, now you live with it. That's not fair to those of us who only came here for a friendly neighbor hood doctor and healthcare to suddenly have to either pay more for less, or see it end completely. But...there are other answers, I put them on this blog. After Pam Ott was allowed to leave without handcuffs, she ruined Sierra Kings District hospital in Reedley, Ca, using money from their "supposedly protected" GOB, but even more awful, she took pension money from employees who will NEVER see their retirement money.

We did this to them, we owe Reedley money and an apology because the Kern River Valley refuses to take responsibility for it's actions. We have seen that with the hospital and the hellish High school. Nobody, not even the churches or politicians, can put humpty dumpty back together again. And unless there is a true investigation which would includes Chester N. Beedle, and piles of documents showing patterns of fraud and waste, that have lead to safety issues, cruelty to families of patients who died in the SNF, along with defamation of many different people, there will be no hospital.

Then the "Gross gang" rubbing it in, with the feeling that they will never be caught, they used all our $9000 dollars in "SHIP" monies giving it to one company for a strategic plan which I was told in an interview with "Philps" that had to be only positive in nature. (which is delusional and unrealistic, but hey they got the contract usingnthe hospitals' own grant money, which would be considered illegal as it wasn't offered to the other companies) Too little, too late, we have done a number of these plans and never has anyone, board, CEO, followed through. I asked Michael Philps how is he going to ensure that his 15,000 dollar contract will make any difference if the board doesn't follow through or even understand how to follow through? He said, that they would recommend that the board talk about strategic planning each month. Okay. But what did that expenditure do to help a hospital already lost at sea? Planning requires time and circumspection and you can't start planning for a disaster while you're in a distaster...Hello?

What's next? Is Marsha Smith going to buy the hospital too and save the valley? Is it Sunset time for the KRV?

If you ignored this blog and read the stories by the ass kissers at the Kern Valley Sun or didn't attend a KVHD meeting or didn't fill out a complaint form or didn't call the AG or OIG or DPH or the nursing board, or didn't write a "informed" letter to the editor, or call Jean Fuller or have a notion there was something wrong: then you probably won't be willing to serve your country either. We really don't need you, and you should be cut from the team/budget.

We're in trouble folks, and to hit the elderly, the children, the disabled, Education, and now our soldiers in harm's way, with all the cuts while some sit back in their recliners ignoring the responsibility of owning a democracy: what comes around goes around. No job is secure, no politican truthful, and no rural hospital worth "dying for."

Your government, your problem: An owner's manual