Comments on: Measure I Campaign Heats up Tulare

By: Dwight C.

Dwight C. — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 03:32:01 +0000

This is obviously an emotional subject, and understandably so. I have both friends and family in various positions at the hospital. This fact causes me to take extra time and consideration before I vote no on Measure I.
I have avoided commenting on wheather or not to vote for Measure I. There is a ‘Fact vs Fiction’ flyer about the hospital that I received in the mail within the last few days. It is full of “half-facts”, just as this type of flyer should be. This flyer is full of “half-facts” and I feel the need to fill in some blanks.
-It is indeed a fact that in 2013, the hospital was close “its end”. The flyer left out the facts that there were 3 other hospital chains / entities that presented proposals for TRMC to partner with them, Adventist Health, Community Medical Centers, and a smaller chain from Costa Mesa. I admit that I do work for Adventist Health. However, after reading the proposal synopsis that were provided in the news paper, I felt that the proposal from Community Medical Centers was the strongest, then Adventist Health, the smaller chain, then the offer from HCCA. The presence of the 3 other offers was left out of the flyer.
-The next fact described how the hospital completed 26 consecutive months of profit. I am sure this is true and is a great accomplishment. However 2 Information Technology (a.k.a. computers) related companies walked away from TRMC due to non-payment. (I work in I.T., and had friend and acquaintences that worked in the TRMC IT dept).
-The final half-fact mentioned Colusa Regional Medical Center closed in April 2016, and 200 people lost their jobs. This is true. However, this hospital chose to back out of a partnership deal with us shortly before it would have been finalized. This hospital had several clinics which we were able to purchase and keep open.
-This half-fact also mentions that the hospitals in Corcoran, Lindsay, and Kingsburg all closed. The hospital in Kingsburg was about to join with Adventist Health when TRMC offered more money up front than Adventist offered. Kingsburg then backed out of the deal with Adventist in lieu of the better looking deal with TRMC. Once TRMC saw how much it would cost to bring the Kingsburg hospital up to code, TRMC backed out of the deal and left Kingsburg high and dry. Kingsburg soon closed. They forgot to mention that in the flyer.
Before working for Adventist Health, I worked at Kaweah Delta. Between the two hospitals, I’ve worked in healthcare for 16 years. I have received great healthcare at both hospitals, and yes even at TRMC.
If Measure I fails and the hospital does close its doors, I do not believe it will be permanent. The hospital has many things going for it that other, smaller hospitals that close did not. The hospitals mentioned in the “Fact vs Fiction” flyer were small, old, decrepid, neglected, and were in smaller towns than Tulare. Our hospital has a new building, with lots of potential. It is located in a good location with good clinics as well. It is a very viable hospital. While I am partial to Adventist Health, there are many other alternatives to the mess we have running our hospital now.
Please, vote “No” on Measure I and let people that know how to run a hospital run our hospital.

By: Tulare taxpayer

Tulare taxpayer — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:42:41 +0000

The reason we are talking sbout bad care by that Dr.is because he has been on the board longer then anyone and is responsible for many people going to a good hospital KDDH.That is what we are talking about Ryan. Maybe you should talk to some of his ex patients. There are many.

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 04:43:08 +0000

Barbara you are absolutely correct. Wouldn’t a simple analyses tell you that if you are making unprecedented profits (as claimed by Benzoovi & board) $9 million for this year would that not pay for the “Tower” pretty fast? What am I missing here? Oh yea this private company wants to profit with taxpayer dollars!!!!!!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:52:14 +0000

In reply to Ryan.

The mother of all lies is that voting “No” is a vote against TRMC employees. Not so! Repeating that lie will not make it anything other than a PR talking point on behalf of TRMC Board of Directors and HCCA. There is still time to secure our hospital’s future and getting compliant with the State’s safety laws with the right people at the helm.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 16:22:33 +0000

The employees are HCCA employees and HCCA runs the daily activities of the hospital but the hospital (building) belongs to the people of tulare and those who would tell you otherwise are the true decievers. I challenge every voter to go to the California Hospital Seismic Safety Law and see for themselves the burden California is putting on all their hospitals. The mother of all lies is that voting “NO” will save the hospital. Two of the most important things that make up a thriving community is quality education and quality healthcare. It’s not a bad idea to invest in either one…

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 13:20:52 +0000

In reply to Ryan.

Ryan you are correct about not changing my heart! That said….what you really should be concerned about is changing “my mind” and I have to say you are not doing a very good job with you using emotion instead of facts in your talking points.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 04:30:07 +0000

Don’t buy in to the big lie. The hospital will not close, by HCCA own accounting they are on target to make 9 million profit after paying Benzoovi 3 milion. If their figures are accurate they can finance on their own like the PRIVATE hospital they really are.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 02:37:14 +0000

I don’t think measure I is about Dr Kumar or any other physician at Tulare hospital. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it’s about securing funds to complete the construction of a new hospital for Tulare Ca that meets earthquake requirements for the state of Calif. The older portion of the hospital, that has served this community for many years no longer meets those requirements and can no longer support in-patient care. That date is not that far down the road and it is going to be the state that shuts down the hospital in Tulare if the new one is not built before that date. If Tulare hospital should ever close, how important do you think that extra 20 or 30 minutes would be in saving the life of a drowning child, heart attack patient, stroke patient or any other family member in serious need of medical care that has to be taken to Visalia because there are no other options…

By: Speakmymind

Speakmymind — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 02:16:49 +0000

The Hospital will not close, another large group could come in but the board won’t allow it, they made their bed and expect us to pay for it. Most employees are outsourced or nursing registry etc now. They could be placed somewhere else. Only upper management could lose out or follow their fearless leader where ever he goes.

By: Renee Cox

Renee Cox — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 02:08:13 +0000

So much corruption & lies. We have yet to hear what happened to the 85 Million..there is a lot of side stepping, etc..going on…I cannot give them another dime.