Candidate for
Board Member; Tri-City Healthcare District

MY MANY YEARS AS A REAL ESTATE & GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY AND AS A CIVIL ENGINEER, SUPERVISING UP TO 85 ENGINEERS IN HIGHWAY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, BUDGETS AND PLANNING HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH THE BUSINESS AND PEOPLE SKILLS NEEDED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE BOARD MEMBER.

I HAVE INCREASED MY KNOWLEDGE OF HOSPITAL OPERATIONS AND GOVERNANCE BY ATTENDING SEMINARS BY THE SPECIAL DISTRICT INSTITUTE, THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICTS, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CPAS, AND THE GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE. I HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IN SPECIAL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT FROM THE SPECIAL DISTRICT INSTITUTE.

THIS CERTIFICATE RECOGNIZES MY SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF COURSES IN SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

LAST YEAR, I WAS ALSO APPOINTED A MEMBER OF THE ACHD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

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SHORTLY AFTER I WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 1998, WE SELECTED A NEW PRESIDENT/CEO TO REPLACE THE FORMER ONE WHO RESIGNED IN JUNE 1998. OUR NEW PRESIDENT/CEO, DR. ART GONZALEZ, HAS WORKED WONDERS. HE HAS BROUGHT IN A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WHICH HAS AGGRESSIVELY ATTACKED OUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS BY RENEGOTIATING CONTRACTS WITH PAYERS AND H.M.O.S. WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED OUR COSTS FOR SUPPLIES BY JOINING FORCES IN PURCHASING SIMILAR SUPPLIES WITH OTHER HOSPITALS TO ACHIEVE QUANTITY SAVINGS.

WE ALSO REACTIVATED OUR BOARD COMMITTEES, WHICH CONSIST OF BOARD MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS, DOCTORS, NURSES AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES, TO ADVISE THE BOARD.

AT THAT TIME, MY BOARD COLLEAGUES SELECTED ME AS BOARD TREASURER AND CHAIR OF THE FINANCE & OPERATIONS AND PLANNING COMMITTEES AND AS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNANCE AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. THESE COMMITTEES PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED COMMINICATION BETWEEN & AMONG ALL OF THESE PARTIES AND THEY RECOMMEND SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LEGISLATION AND ASSIST IN PREPARING FINANCIAL AND GOVERNANCE POLICIES, THE NEW STRATEGIC, AND FACILITY & SEISMIC MASTER PLANS AND REVIEW ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS TO STABILIZE HOSPITAL FINANCES.

NOW THAT FINANCES APPEAR TO BE STABILIZED, WE CAN IMPLEMENT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVES TO INCREASE PATIENT SATISFACTION, IMPROVE MEDICAL OUTCOMES, AUGMENT OUR REVENUE AND STRENGTHEN OUR PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIPS.