On the Channel 23 telecast at 6pm on Thursday, Oct 19, Dr Horowitz stated that "it would be a conflict of interest for us not to do anything about getting contracts for our patients health plans". meaning I assume the Doctors running for election to the TVHD Board of Directors.
Whoa!
It would certainly be a blatant conflict if Board members (Dr Horowitz is a potential board member) were to pick and choose among the many health plans offered and choose those who benefit their patients and their practices financially  (GEMCare and BFMC). over other plans:ie- Kaiser is the most prominent one in our district.  
If the Doctors running for the board are elected, chances are slim to NONE that any negotiation will be carried foreard for a contract with Kaiser for its members to be served by TVHD.
Doctors, lets face it and Dr Horowitz and Hall said it in the candidate forum on Wednesday night, are a "small business owners' -
Their practices are their livlihood and as business owners, it is unlikely that
they are going to do anything to hurt the solvency of their practices.  It would be most unlikely that as Hospital Board Directors, they would negotiate for contracts that would benefit the Hospital and the community, rather than their practices.
(A medical practice is the name for the people who depend on a one certain doctor"s care - he/she is part of that certain doctor's practice.)
Another point that needs to be stressed is a misstatement regarding the AHRQ grant money purchasing the retinal scanner in use now by Dr Horowitz and Dr Hall's patients - .  This is an untruth, to put it knidly - Hospital funds - not grant funds- purchased that equiment and it should in no way be removed from the hospital and put in one of the physicians offices - that would be misuse of District money.
Likewise, by accepting the AHRQ grant, the hospital and its partners - and this ostensibly includes the physicians, have agreed to put up $500,000 per year to receive $500,000 per year in grant funds.  The hospital has so far furnished the major part of the matching funds.
The Doctors have stated that they do not want to delay the building of our new hospital- however they have also stated that they do not approve of the layout of the hospital and would like to redraw the plans.  Well, in that case, these new plans would have to be resubmitted to the State for approval and since we have only 14 months left before the mandatory closing date of all unapproved hospital - those who do not meet earthqake safety standards and do not have approval of new facilities - so we will be without any hospital for the foreseeable future.  Our bond dollars grow a little smaller each day as they shrink in purchasing power so our ability to build a viable hospital likewise shrinks.
Please consider the above and who you believe are the best candidates to vote onto the TVHD Board of Directors.  My choice is with those who have no conflicted interests: Teri Kahn, Leslie Kimball and Pete Sturn.