Burciaga speaks of need for services

KHVD Board Chair Victoria Alwin, left, and board member Dr. Robert Gross ask CCO Cynthia Burciaga for clarification during the Feb. 3 board meeting.

Susan Barr
Kern Valley Sun

Kern Valley Healthcare District Chief Clinical Officer Cynthia Burciaga addressed the need for additional patient services, such as dialysis and mammograms at the Wednesday board meeting.

During her Feb. 3 report to the board, Burciaga reiterated administrators’ awareness of the public’s desire to see more, much-needed services brought on board.

“In order to coordinate and provide these services, we need to capture some of the costs associated with the services that are rendered at the Healthcare District,” she said. “I am asking the public, you, your friends, your family and your neighbors to assist us in providing those services to the community.”

For example, patients using the emergency room as a doctor’s office for things such as chronic pain, colds, and even prescription refills drives up costs, she said.

“By choosing not to go to a local doctor’s office, where they would pay a $10 or $20 co-pay and get the necessary treatment, some individuals go to the ER.” Burciaga aded that the Rural Health Clinic and the hospital have a sliding scale payment system available to qualifying individuals.

The CCO reminded the audience that patients are required, depending on their helath coverage, to pay a portion of the services when they come to the emergency department.

“We’re doing our part and even exceeding our part,” Burciaga said. “Emergency services will always be provided to anyone that comes into the emergency department without regard to payment.”

Board member Kay Knight discussed the upcoming 58th annual Association of California Healthcare Districts Meeting in Lake Tahoe and proposed that interested board directors be allowed to attend the conference. Though the cost of attending was unknown, the motion was approved.

After the meeting, Marge Swedelson of Lake Isabella remarked, “I have never been in favor of these conferences being attended. They are extremely expensive and are always held at high end locations.” She added that in times of economic belt tightening it might be more prudent for directors to abstain from attending such events.