Voters can make choice
I will attempt to respond objectively to recent commentaries, as I believe it’s my responsibility to the community to do so.
1. In 2016, we did step into pretty big shoes vacated by previous board members and without missing a beat, brought their visions to fruition. We now have a Cath lab, rural clinics, and active cancer, wound and urology clinics. The GME program was voted on by the current Board and was made a reality due to the diligence of Dr. Jeff Hudson on our team. We have created a county-wide healthcare alliance with Kaweah Delta to optimize purchasing, creating joint strategies and re-distributing risk on managed care contracts.
2. Being a 3-term Board chair, I accept blame for any shortcomings by the Board; credit, though, must be given to the ENTIRE Board for giving clear direction to the management team with unanimous votes.
3. Our management team is notably well gender balanced and headed by home-grown executive Donna Hefner. They have done a brilliant job in carrying out the Board’s directives. They don’t deserve to be on the receiving end of false indignities, e.g. untruths about receiving COVID funds.
4. The District’s finances have steadily improved over the years under the current leadership, as repeatedly presented in the Board’s open sessions and is a matter of public record. We have retired debts, approved and financed a new $28 Million sub-acute facility, and have more than 485 days of operating reserves, with an “A” rating from Fitch. There have been no layoffs or furlough even during COVID related hard times. See https://www.fitchratings.com/entity/sierraview-local-health-care-district-ca-86001091. We proudly pay our front-line heroes, when they’re under quarantine.
5. It has been a challenge to bring order to Board proceedings so no individual Board member interferes with day to day hospital operations, violates privacy laws, divulges legally prohibited, closed session information or leaks trade secrets, any of which would put the entire Board and District at risk. As Board chair, I have attempted to fulfill my duties and responsibilities to curtail any such divulgences or violations. Working with our esteemed legal counsel, the board has adopted By-laws which are now compliant with Federal and State laws.
6. Being physician-members of the medical staff also, it’s imperative physician Board members wear a different hat while in the Board room. Again, it has been a challenge to keep individual Board members from interfering with the medical staff peer review process and quality concerns, as brought forth by the chief of staff, but I have made active efforts to educate Board members of their dual roles, and their duty of loyalty/ care.
7. Most contracts go through a fully transparent RFP process, are reviewed by the Joint commission, are subject to quality oversight by medical staff, and regularly undergo market analysis. We’re extremely cautious dealing with public funds. Any insinuations to contrary are patently false and irresponsible.
8. I firmly believe an informed electorate will rightfully decide if 2 members of a single family sitting on a 5-member Board, under the pretext of “crisis” and “sacrifice,” creates a conflict of interest. In his recent commentary, well-respected outgoing Board member and healthcare CPA Dan Smith refuted any such concerns of a “crisis.”
In closing, I have served Porterville for more than 42 years, don’t see the need to engage in public grandstanding as actions speak louder than words, and I have no plans to sit on my laurels if re-elected.
Please go beyond slogans, mudslinging, and election-time catfishing by making a single phone call to your Doctor or anyone remotely connected to the hospital before casting your vote.