Political forum at Kelcy's
Political forum at Kelcy's
By: SrMalcontent
Description: Weighing in on the candidate forum.
Topics: TOWN HAL FORUM AT KELSEYS!
Posted by SrMalcontent Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:06:44 PDT
Viewed 648 times
2 responses 8 comments I was a bit late for the candidates forum at Kelseys tonight held by the Tehachapi Democrat Club, but i did get there to hear most of the fun and games.
Mr Hall spoke at length about "water", I could not decided from what he said if we had enough to keep the present polulation damp for then next hundred years or whether the State would force us to accept several hundred thousand souls to our valley and we could all die of dehydration -. I don't suppose it matters.
At the beginning 4of the 7 candidates for the 3 seats open on the Hospital Board were present. Ed Gordon went first and exhibited why he is an x-employe of the Tehachapi Hospital. There was supposed to be no 'character assignation' in the comments tonight and Mr Gordon came as close to it as makes no difference - this could be why the X.
Dr Hall was lonley representing the physicians who are running for the board (Dr Horowitz came in just before closing) and said not much that hadn't been published in the News a few weeks ago.
Teri Kahn came directly from the Oct. Hospital Board of Directors meeting - a bit late- as she is the incumbent who is seeking re election. She was convincing as to her knowledge of current business at the hospital - and folks, THAT is what the directors are about - to oversee all business, which includes the medical side, of the hospital and make sure that it is in compliance with the laws of the state, county and City (to say nothing of the Federal Government); to see that the med/insuracne that the hospital accepts pays enough money to keep the hospital in business (not within a whipstitch of Bankruptcy as it was 8 years ago), to make sure all hospital departments are in compliance and are being administered properly, to make decisions regarding budget, personnell, business practices etc, and to oversee and hopefully cooperate with the medical staff to keep the hospital doors open to the public.
Teri is competant, well versed in her job and dedicated to the hospital and the healthcare district.
Leslie Kimball made an impassioned plea to the voters/listeners to vote for the people who are caring and compassionate and able to see more than one side of the hospital - see the patients as people to be taken care of in the very best way possible and not as bodies to be brought in through the ambulance bay, stabilized and taken out the ambulance bay and shipped to Bakersfiled or Lancaster. She is also a loving advocate for the long-term patients and will fight to keep the present hospital capable of giving care as well as working for the new hospital that must be built imediatley.
(In case you are not aware, the present building housing Tehachapi Hospital is not in compliance with State Earthquake Safety Standards and will be closed Jan.1, 2008, IF earnest effort is not in evidence that an approved building project is underway.)
Pete Sturn spoke with authority about the condition of the hospital some 12 or so years ago, when it was run down, had not been able to keep full accreditation and was close to failure - most of the present local medical community was in practice at that time and didn't lift a finger to keep hospital services available in town. Pete stressed the ability and knowledge of our current CEO (about to be past CEO, unfortunately - who is going to a hospital that is established in a way that TVHD may be some years from now if not allowed to go to pieces again) that kept the facility open and has allowed it to flourish. Pete asked that the public vote members of the general community to the board so that there will be a balance between medical practitioners and community members.with no chance of conflicts of interest between the physicians and the Medical Insurance Plans they are part of.
Dr Horowitz had arrived at about that time, gave his resume, stated that the current Doctors in the community want to obtain control of the hospital so that the new hospital will be equiped and staffed as the present doctors want it to be. Dr Olsen to not attend.
If you have managed to wade through this review I'm sure you can see where I stand in this matter. Vote for the candidates that have the welfare of all of the TVHD at heart and not just a miniscule section of it -
Please think about your kids future as well as yours and vote for Kahn, Kimball and Sturn.
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Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:22:46 PDT
Quite frankly, there was no 'character assignation' [sic] the issues I brought up are proven facts that were glossed over by the departing CEO. There is in fact MAJOR employee strife at the hospital! This is evidenced by the Grand Jury report. I'm hoping the new CEO will not let insurance negotiations get out of control and will be a true leader for the hospital; sure Ray was an excellent PR person to the public, but he negelected the internal hospital issues! Again, it's very telling that someone who supposedly has the publics interest at heart would leave at such a pivotal time in the new hospital building process! Flame away!
Thu Oct 19, 2006 13:40:18 PDT
Ed, if you had a career you would understand the necessity of going forward with it.
Thu Oct 19, 2006 20:07:00 PDT
i need to make on thing very clear!! Last night the Doctors gave the community the imperssion that they brought Dr. Singh the new full time ob/gyn here. Well that is a flat out lie. I know Dr. Singh very well, and not only did they not bring him here, He has recieved no support from Dr. Horowitz, or Dr. olsen, and these Doctors continue to tell there patients to go to bakersfield, because we dont have an ob/gyn here. i should know i was one of those patients! it really upset me last night when they outwardly lied, this shows their credibility, and their interest is not in this community, they would rather see me bring my 2 kids down to bakersfield, and wait all day, and travel back.... what is their motivations.... i have worked in health care over 15 years, and i have never seen Doctor so spoiled,,, everyone has their own profession, building a hospital is not why Dr's go to school. they need to keep in the scope of practice.
Fri Oct 20, 2006 16:13:08 PDT
Wow!I am glade that I read this before I voted! I didn't want to vote for the Doctors and had not made up my mind out of the other 4. Ed's response made my mind up for me. I will be voting for Kahn, Kimball and Sturn. Yes Pete I said Sturn. The Doctors that are running are very good Doctors but they need to stay Doctors and not administrators.
Fri Oct 20, 2006 19:31:20 PDT
I am not going to vote forthe MD's or ED!
Sat Oct 21, 2006 07:21:46 PDT
who is ED?
Sat Oct 21, 2006 08:05:13 PDT
Ed is the first replyer to the Blog- Ed Gordon who is running for a seat on the board -
Wed Oct 25, 2006 09:08:56 PDT
It looks to me like all the candidates are good sports, and not slandering eachother. Why are you stirring the pot? Your gasps and comments were not appreciated at Kelcy's the other night.You are way too close in personal relationship with Ray Hino to see straight concerning internal hospital employee neglect. People in the hospital need their jobs. This is why they are affraid to speak out. I heard only one person speak of these issues that night. We need people on the board and a CEO that will work to resolve ALL issues. Happy employees make for better patient care.
