Candidate Forum Statement

By John A. Kermen

I say that I have served on the Board because that is what the position should be. I am here to serve the community, the hospital staff, and the physicians. I am running independently because I have always felt that it is important not to align with anyone else serving on the Board. By bringing one's own ideas to the table it assures a system of checks and balances. Disagreement leads to meaningful discussion and yields effective strategy and planning. Anyone who sees this as a position of power is mistaken. It is also not a position of micromanagement. I am the only remaining Board member who has attended the Estes Park programs which instructs a person how to be an effective Board member. As I learned in that training, it is not the job of the Board to run the hospital. It is the job of the Board to put qualified Administrators in place to run the hospital. The Board provides oversight & direction. If the direction takes a wrong turn, it is the responsibility of the Board to change the Administration.

Unfortunately, this recently occurred when the prior administrator was not providing the Board with true information. Our financial situation was falsely presented, and many crucial items were being withheld from the Board members. This resulted in a unanimous vote for bankruptcy, which has provided the hospital an opportunity to hit the "reset button" with our debtors, vendors, and even the union. I commend Wayne Allen for helping us navigate thru this difficult time, and as a result the hospital has been able to turn around its financial crisis. Of course, as we slowly exit bankruptcy, more needs to be done to secure our valuable services.

I have stood firm against past and current Board Members & Administrators during some controversial times. I was steadfast in the decision to convert our hospital into a Critical Access Hospital, which has been financially advantageous to the institution. I fought very hard to preserve our excellent Ambulance Service with experienced Paramedics, and I was a part of a very small courageous group that formed Mendocino Coast Ambulance Support, of which I am still an active volunteer. When it was recently suggested that our excellent Home Health Service be given to the Adventist Hospital system or eliminated, I stood against it. Today a restructured Home Health is operating at a profit.

Our hospital is extremely unique. We do not have a larger institution down the road. Transfers to other tertiary hospitals are weather dependent. Ambulance calls are not simply a scoop and deliver...as some calls can be very far from the hospital. A woman who is in active labor can not zip over the hill for her delivery. The problem with providing emergency care, is that there can be large periods of time where nothing happens, but you are paying people to be there. But when an emergency happens, you better have the right people, equipment and systems in place or it will be a disaster.

This is why I am 100% behind a Parcel Tax. I am not interested in eliminating our valuable services at the hospital. It is time for the community to take ownership of this hospital, just as they have done with the fire departments, schools, and even a water pavilion. Sonoma Valley Hospital has a worse profit and loss statement when compared to ours, but they are operational because the community stepped up with a parcel tax to support their local health care.

I have been an Anesthesiologist at our hospital for 20 years. I am very weary of departments "coming up on the chopping block" every time we have financial difficulty. Every time this happens, the employees of said units have to stress and fear for their jobs.. I look to a time where that doesn't happen anymore. These are valuable members of our community and they should have some sense of job security in order to effectively practice their expertise. The community should not have to worry that a valuable service will no longer be available. It is time the community secure our valuable services with a parcel tax. I have been part of team that is moving forward with this effort thru the Planning Committee, and once we are out of bankruptcy I wish to continue with this effort.

As Chief of Anesthesiology, I have a hospital based practice. I believe this gives me the opportunity to see the day-to-day operation and business of the hospital. It allows me to continually interact with the Hospital employees, and they have good access to me if they have concerns. Our Hospital employees are remarkable. They are the heart and soul of our hospital. They are smart, caring, loyal, and extremely proficient. I have learned so much from them, and many of them have become true friends. If reelected, I will continue to support the staff of our Hospital. It is important that the employees feel supported and appreciated because they are on the front line caring and supporting our patients.

As Chief of the Medical Staff, I am extremely supportive of our excellent physicians. I have diligently argued that physicians be paid the market value for Northern California. We must be able to attract and retain qualified physicians. Again, there is no hospital without dedicated Doctors.

I have been asked why I would like to continue as a Board Member of our hospital. The only answer I can come up with is that I was raised in family that was taught to "do the right thing." I may make mistakes, but I always try to do what Dr. Buckerfield thought would...be fair, honest and protect the hospital for the community. I humbly ask for your consideration for reelection.