Kern Valley Sun
Valley residents turned out in force Wednesday night to voice their concern about the possible closure of Mesa Clinical Pharmacy, the Kern Valley Healthcare District’s retail pharmacy in Mt. Mesa. Several took the podium to address the KVHD Board of Directors at the Nov. 4 meeting.
Because there are no pharmacies in Southlake, Weldon or Onyx, residents say having Mesa Clinical Pharmacy close by is more convenient and less costly than traveling to Lake Isabella or Kernville.
 Virginia Burrows, of Mt. Mesa, tells the Kern Valley Healthcare District Board of Trustees she doesn’t want the Mesa Clinical Pharmacy in Mt. Mesa to close. CEO Tim Glew said the pharmacy will remain open. |
“I’ve lived in the valley for almost 36 years and attended the board meetings for about 20 years,” said Marge Swedelson of Southlake, who is a long-time supporter of Kern Valley Hospital. “I’ve given a lot of thought to last month’s board meeting and due to the (reported) loss of revenue, I was not surprised to hear about a possible closure.
“I was very surprised when (board chair) Kay Knight criticized Chief Financial Officer Chet Beedle’s accounting methods,” Swedelson added. “Chet Beedle is one of the best things that ever happened to our hospital. Chet is by far the very best CFO that the hospital has ever had. I have nothing but admiration and thanks for the decisions he makes.”
CEO Tim McGlew remarked, “Clearly after listening to our financial report, it is obviously a concern for us. We cannot continue to travel down this path of losses. It’s really been one of our focuses to begin looking clearly at all of our operating areas in terms of what it is costing us.”
McGlew then announced the district’s retail pharmacy will, in fact, remain open. He said a third party looked at the pharmacy and substantiated Beedle’s assessment of the financial situation. However, rather than close the retail operation, McGlew said there will be staffing changes and pharmaceutical inventory will continue to be limited. For now, the changes should keep the pharmacy operational, McGlew said.
Chief Clinical Officer Cynthia Burciaga reported that about half of the district’s flu shots were given during the drive-through flu clinic held earlier during the day. Another clinic will likely be held in the near future, Burciaga said, adding the date will be announced soon.
Burciaga said two new CNA’s and two new LVN’s have been assigned to work in the Skilled Nursing Facility. “We are modifying one of our current RN’s to assist the care managers with their daily responsibilities,” Burciaga said. “There a lot of people over there and we want to make sure that each resident gets even more individualized attention. And they already get a lot.”
CFO Beedle reported negative numbers for September, however, he said specific areas continue to do well. The SNF, which in August showed a profit for the first time in four years, continues to improve financially, Beedle said. The facility wasn’t profitable in September, he said, but “It did not lose money, either.” Beedle attributed the “ongoing improvement” to high census numbers, no use of the outside nursing registry and controlled internal labor costs.
“The Rural Health Clinic has been a bright spot,” Beedle said, adding, “For the month of September, they made $27,000.”
As she brought the meeting to a close, Knight reiterated the board and the administration value the public’s input and appreciate the concern they have for the district.
“Tonight it really became real that there is a need for this pharmacy out here in this community,” said Carol Wright of Kernville. Wright, who is training to be a nurse and hopes eventually to work for hospice added, “I was impressed with the meeting tonight. It was really informative. I think the board is on the right track, but it will take time.”
The next KVHD regular Board of Directors meeting will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the hospital cafeteria. The public is encouraged to attend.
Comments
No comments posted.