Bid to leave Palm Drive district not based on fact

[Sara S]

Close to Home
from The Press Democrat, Sunday, 9/4: by Alanna Brogan

A recent application sent to the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission requested that the Russian River communities be allowed to detach from the Palm Drive Health Care District. This action by a small group of people to walk away from the district and the hospital is filled with misconceptions stated as fact.

The two key points posited by the detachment instigators include “the cost-benefit of services” and “the changing landscape of health care and hospital options.” Both of these arguments are easily undermined when the full context of these statements is addressed.

Our district is being accused of not providing services to the Russian River communities, when, in fact, we have provided services throughout the entire course of the district’s history. That service focused on supporting a multi-functional and much-needed district hospital for emergencies and acute care.

When financial troubles beset the hospital operation and closure became the only alternative, the district reached out to the Russian River residents and solicited opinions on how a new model would work for the communities served. The answers came with requests to increase services in the unincorporated and underserved Russian River communities.

We listened and took action. Since 2014, we have been gearing up our efforts to provide community services for the most fragile: seniors and the underserved people affected by homelessness and poverty. We are making a difference, but the work requires more than just turning a switch on services. The level of attention the district is providing to the Russian River communities is more robust than ever. As part of an integrated health network, we partner with organizations to make the best use of our resources.

We have partnered with West County Health Centers, and the result has been funding of the Russian River Area Resources Committee, a support network of more than 20 agencies focused on early childhood education and parenting. Our ongoing work with In-Home Support Services has placed more than 22 care providers in Russian River area homes for patient care. We have collaborated with West County Health Centers through a recently awarded grant to the Palm Drive Health Care District to provide respite beds and rapid re-housing for homeless individuals needing shelter after an acute illness.

Second, we have partnered with the Russian River Senior Center and are now providing the following services: blood pressure checks and education, toenail care, flu vaccines, wellness classes and screenings. Plans are afoot to offer fall prevention/balance classes at the Monte Rio Community Center.

Our efforts are often challenged as being too little, too late. However, nothing is ever too little when it comes to those in need.

Meanwhile, Sonoma West Medical Center continues to struggle like many rural hospitals faced with regulations and delays for funding that hamper the ability to claim a successful operation. The district and its board remain confident that a changing management structure will help to bring the success this hospital deserves. In fact, current data predict a break-even status in early fall.

Our efforts to be the engine that promotes health and well-being throughout the district continue to be our focus, along with the hospital, which is providing acute care services to the Russian River community.
We are unified in our cause to spread the message for health and well-being. If the committee that has spent countless hours trying to detach could have turned their energy toward finding ways to improve upon the community efforts of the district, we can only ponder what we could accomplish.

Alanna Brogan is executive director of the Palm Drive Health Care District.

[Dick]

Talk about something not based in fact. The whole piece reads like some fevered dream.
And why the snide reference to "instigators"? The detachment group is a group of citizens exercising their rights who should be referred to as "petitioners." It's not good policy (or very smart) to denigrate them in a public forum. All through this bid to reopen the hospital, anyone who has questioned anything has been denigrated and abused.
Way to make friends and influence people PDHCD.
I see your gratitude Jonathan and am still waiting for your explanation on why the hospital is not performing like you predicted in some of your previous blog posts. Why not do some investigating?

Close to Home
from The Press Democrat, Sunday, 9/4: by Alanna Brogan

A recent application sent to the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission requested that the Russian River communities be allowed to detach from the Palm Drive Health Care District. This action by a small group of people to walk away from the district and the hospital is filled with misconceptions stated as fact.

The two key points posited by the detachment instigators include “the cost-benefit of services” and “the changing landscape of health care and hospital options.” Both of these arguments are easily undermined when the full context of these statements is addressed....

[Dick]

Guess LAFCO didn't care for the "facts" it received from the District: they voted unanimously to allow detachment.

Close to Home
from The Press Democrat, Sunday, 9/4: by Alanna Brogan

A recent application sent to the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission requested that the Russian River communities be allowed to detach from the Palm Drive Health Care District. This action by a small group of people to walk away from the district and the hospital is filled with misconceptions stated as fact....