Tehachapi News

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The quest to build a new hospital in Tehachapi is fondly called “the project” by people who have served on various committees and boards going back several years. But today, after all of the planning, discussion, debate — and even the passage of a bond issue — the likelihood of the project becoming a reality appears to be very much in doubt.

How did the project arrive at this juncture? What can be done to see it to completion?

The first question is no easier to answer than the second, because different people have different views about what happened over the years and why. Letters to the Tehachapi News and blogs on the News' web site reflect the different sentiments, and there's plenty of blame to spare.

Seeking approval; building up steam without gaining ground

“As I watch what has gone on I feel like I am watching a favorite child being flayed alive,” said Joeann King, who had been part of the Hospital Foundation since 2000 but resigned “in disgust” a few months ago.

King said she had become frustrated and felt the new hospital wouldn't get built and the money that had been voted for the project had been “flittered away.”

In an attempt to get a handle on the status of the project and get it on track Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District (TVHD) President, Dr. Conklin, asked John Hicks to come on board as project manager, to try and sort it all out. Hicks resigned after just four months, just prior to the consultant delivered his negative report on the project’s “buildability.” 

“When I took over as Project Manager the question was ‘How can we build this at the lowest acceptable risk?' Now let's see if we can get it through OSHPD [State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development], then we can try to build it. All that was with the idea that we're going to make this work. That was the original intent,” Hicks said.

Former CEO Ray Hino said the modular design should have come as no surprise and that its buildability was explored at length before it was ever submitted or approved by OSHPD.

The Rural Health Design Consortium, (RHDC), which later became the Rural Health Design Network, (RHDN), was formed in 2000. TVHD was one of 13 district hospitals to share cost of hospital design to meet new state laws. Tehachapi Hospital was slated to be the first rural hospital of its size to utilize the new, “cutting edge” modular design.

“Everybody knew it [the design] was cutting edge. We involved the community in every step of the process,” said Ray Hino, previous TVHD CEO, who resigned suddenly in November of 2006. “You could not have had any more community involvement than we had in this process.” He continued. “We had about 15 possible sites, we did a car caravan and invited the community to drive location to location to all the sites before we narrowed it down to about four. Then the Broome Ranch site became available and we decided on that.”

The deed to the Broome Ranch property was finally recorded on Dec. 27, 2007 after more than three years of negotiation and/or discussion, depending on which source you cite.

Many months and days later...
Thousands of dollars short

According to former board members, staffers and various volunteers, it was known at the time of the bond issue that it would not be sufficient but it was hoped that additional funds might come from hospital support groups, state and federal grants.

“We thought we could get businesses and corporate sponsors to assist. Tower Investments, at one time, proposed to build adjacent medical buildings on property they owned next to where the hospital land and put a road across it to the hospital for fire access. They also wanted to build the administration building and clinic and lease them back to the hospital,” said Terri Kahn, a past TVHDD board member.

In February 2007 the state granted an extension to 2013 for compliance with seismic requirements allowing a little breathing room, stating, “Having reviewed the information provided, it is clear that the loss of Tehachapi Hospital will result in a loss of health care capacity. Based upon your request and the Compliance Plans [to build a new hospital] submitted to the Office, Tehachapi Hospital is granted an extension to January 1, 2013.”

What’s next?

Because a consultant recently reported to the board that the current hospital construction plan is not feasible, the board must decide whether to scrap that design and start over. Where will additional money come from to develop a new plan?

“The planned facility can be built, and, more importantly, there are folks out there who really want to help it come to fruition, including helping to develop a financing plan which would support all previous work. This requires risk taking, not risk aversion,” said David Yarbrough Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Planner, Aspen Street Architects, Inc. in response to the consultant’s report.

At their last meeting, the THE BOARD had determined they wanted additional input from the public and decided to hold a special public meeting on the subject before going forward with any decision. That meeting has yet to be scheduled.

The regular board meeting is scheduled for May 21 at the Golden Hills Community Center, 21415 Reeves St., at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.



1983
•The Tehachapi Hospital Foundation (THF) was created but became inactive due to public apathy, according to Joeann King, former THF president.

1994
• Senate Bill 1953 sets new seismic safety mandate for hospitals. Compliance required by Jan. 1, 2008.

2000
•The Rural Health Design Consortium, (RHDC) was formed. TVHD was a charter member.
• New TVHD board elected after public recall.

2001 - 2003
• THF reactivated when it became obvious that Tehachapi was in danger of losing the hospital due to seismic standards.
• TVHD joins Rural Health Design Network (RHDN), (formerly the RHDC) as one of 13 district hospitals to share cost of hospital design to meet new state laws.
• A $193,000 grant was received from the RHDN and supported by The California Endowment, THF, The Guild of the Tehachapi Hospital, and The California Health Collaborative, to be used for a compressive community needs study.
• Consultant Butch Enkoji was engaged to interview and be liaison to the medical staff as part of the community needs assessment.
• Feb. of 2003 - Survey sent to 5,200 community residents with a 30 percent return response.
• Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) provided $50,000 to TVHD as a matching grant for concept development.
• Aspen Street Architects Inc. (ASAI) selected to do concept development in June of

2003.
• TVHD determines the hospital will cost closer to $20 million, but, bond consultants Caldwell, Flores and Winters determined the community would only support a bond issue of about $15 million.
2004
• January - Final report, a Plan for Healthcare Services prepared by RHDN and the California Health Collaborative was received by TVHD. A copy of the report can be found at: http://www.tvhd.org/getpage...
• March 2 - Proposition J, a $ 15 million Bond issue approved by a nearly 80 percent margin.

2005
• Fall of 2005: Concept Design Approved by hospital staff, administration and TVHD board.

2006
• ASAI had preliminary meetings with OSHPD on Jan. 2 and March13.
• March 29 - Plans were submitted to the State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).
• May 25 - Structural criteria delivered to OSHPD for review. Approved by OSHPD on June 5.
• July - The City of Tehachapi annexed the proposed hospital site, donated by the Broome family.
• Aug. 7 - OSHPD responded with their first revision requirements.
• October - Ray Hino announces resignation as CEO after eight years , leaves mid-November
• November - The current THE BOARD is elected, with one incumbent and four doctors now in charge.
• November 14 -  Construction documents back-check (BC) 01 was submitted to OSHPD.
• November - Hino replaced by Bob Duncan as Interim CEO.
• December - New board sworn in on  Dec. 8.

2007:
• February - State grants extension to Jan. 1, 2013 for meeting seismic requirements.
•Feb. 16 - OSHPD and the California  Department of Health Services (DHS) approve of dietary design and location for hospital food service.
• March 30 - BC 01 re-submitted to OSHPD by ASAI.
• June - Allan Burgess becomes CEO, replacing Interim CEO Bob Duncan.
• Aug. 1- Construction BC02 submittal to OSHPD.
• Sept. 10 - BC02 received back from OSHPD.
• Nov. 21 - Construction BC03 submittal to OSHPD.
• December - John Hicks joins TVHD as unpaid project manager for new hospital.
• Dec. 19 - Public meeting held to report on status of Hospital.
• Dec. 27 - Deed to Broome property transfer signed by Burgess.

2008
• Jan. 4 - OSHPD signs off on hospital plans.
• Jan. 30 - John Hicks recommends independent review of plans.
• Feb. 20 - Hicks gives notice of intent to step down as project manager in April.
• April 9 - Building committee receives preview of consultants’ reports.
• April 16 - Full TVHD board receives consultants reports.
• May 21 - Next regular board meeting at the Golden Hills Community Center, 21415 Reeves St., at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.