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Indian Valley Record
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9A
ass'stance
EPHC asks city of Portola fOrool0v00rtu00,,00e,0000, -
oro0000ec00 of a
Diana Jorgenson
Staff Writer
djorgenson@plumasnews.com
Tom Hayes, chief executive
officer of Eastern Plumas
Health Care, came to the regu-
lar June 15 meeting of the Por-
tola City Council to ask for
the city's help.
Citing a half-million-dollar
net loss in February, Hayes
said, "We don't have the re-
serves to weather the storm."
He went on to explain that
while EPHC's insured patient
base has declined, its MediCal
patient base has increased. It
has witnessed a "huge in-
crease in bad debt in the last
six months" and experienced
a drop in volume.
"Cash flow is our most criti-
cal issue," Hayes said, adding
that he is looking at ways to
restructure the debt load.
He then described a vacant
35-acre piece of land adjacent
to the hospital known once as
the Markwell property and
currently owned by the hospi-
tal district.
The district purchased the
property in 2003 for $554,000
and currently owes $354,000. It
makes payments of $5,200 a
month, pays 7.8 percent inter-
est, and has a balloon pay-
ment of $263,000 due in 2013.
"We're proposing that the
city consider buying that
property for what we owe,
less than half of what we
paid," he said, suggesting that
the city could develop it. He
also hoped that the city would
consider selling the district
back four to five acres in the
future if hospital expansion
were warranted.
Hospital board member
Larry Fites gave a short histo-
ry of the property and previ-
ous development attempts,
pointed out that the northern
third was zoned light indus-
trial, and outlined infrastruc-
ture access.
Portola City Manager Jim
Murphy asked whether an ap-
praisal had been done and felt
it was necessary before there
could be any discussion of ex-
pending public dollars.
"We're going through the
same things that you are and
we appreciate your chal-
lenges," Murphy told him.
Discussions of the proposed
purchase were extensive, tak-
ing up an hour of the meeting
time, and Hayes fielded sever-
al questions from council
members regarding other pos-
sible buyers and other things
the hospital might do.
Since EPHC has been bat-
tling cash flow problems for
some time, Hayes described
what had already been done
and how the hospital planned
to meet its future challenges.
"We're looking at every-
thing and leaving no stone un-
turned," Hayes t01d the coun-
cil.
"So are we," countered Su-
san Scarlett, finance officer
for the city.
"The difference is that the
city has a reserve. We don't
have a reserve or we wouldn't
be here asking for help,"
Hayes said.
"We can't really delve into
our reserve without doing a
hell of a lot of research. Re-
spectfully, that's where I
stand," said council member
William Weaver.
Murphy added, "Citizens
are already upset about rate
increases. How are we to in-
vest in infrastructure and
roads on top of that?"
Although city staff and
council members were sympa-
thetic, they felt that more
steps must be taken before a
sale could be discussed seri-
ously.
Their first obstacle, accord-
ing to Murphy, was the need
for legal counsel. City Attor-
ney Steve Gross had recused
himself at the beginning of
the discussion because he is
also attorney for the hospital.
The council voted to waive
conflict of interest in order to
have Gross advise both par-
ties, but Hayes will have to
take the idea before the full
hospital board for approval as
a next step.
Local Realtor B.J. Pearson
urged the council to accept
the proposal, "Loss of the hos-
Mess of any size moving to
Plumas County."
Supervisor Terry Swoffo:d
countered that there is tl-
ready an industrial park in
Chilcoot and several busine: ;s-
es there have.failed. "Wh .n
businesses move in Calif(,r-
nia, they move out of Califi Ir-
nia," he said, citing Califlr-
nia's reputation for being o ]e
of the worst states to do bu
Mess in. "I want to keep
hospital here, but we ca
bank everything on light J
dustry. I don't see that h
pening at this point in time.
Pearson also brought up t
fact that the city had loan
the county $350,000 for
Lake Davis Treatment Plm
and he thought the city mi
show equal support for
hospital and save jobs th
might be in jeopardy.
According to Hayes,
hospital employs 240 peop
and all but 15 live in Sier
and Plumas counties. The
jobs calculate into 178 fu
Plumas District Hospitaldirectors name
president Valerie Flanigan
said in a June 24 email that
Lafferty's resume shows "a
senior health care executive
with over 30 years of leader-
ship experience in both not-
for-profit and'for-profit hospi-
tal settings."
"He has a proven track
record in all aspects of hospi-
tal operations including fi-
nancial turnarounds, new
service development, hospital
physician and community re-
lations."
Flanigan added Lafferty
looked for a CEO role that
would allow him to be part of
the community and to con-
tribute to it.
Lafferty and his wife have
visited the area several times
and Flanigan said they are ex-
cited to move here.
Lafferty will spend the
week of July 18 at PDH before
Douglas L. Lafferty
Incoming Chief Executive Officer
Plumas District Hospital
Mona Hill
Staff Writer
rnhill@plu masnews.corn
Plumas District Hospital's
board of directors has offered
Douglas L. Lafferty, of HaM-
ford, the role of chief execu-
tive officer at PDH, complet-
ing a 10-month recruitment
effort.
Lafferty has accepted a
three-year contract at a start-
ing salary of $225,000.
Lafferty was employed
at Adventist Health Systems
since 2003. PDH board
and system restructuring,
hospital design and construc-
tion. It also shows, as do his
references, excellent board,
returning Aug. 8.
Flanigan also commended
Interim CEO Linda Jameson.
"We also cannot express
time equivalent positions.
Murphy asked Hayes if a
low-interest loan from the city
would be helpful.
"This is about cash flow,"
said Hayes, "It would help."
Mayor Pro Tern Juliana
Mark summarized, "We need
to take care of some of the
variables: look into both op-
tions, get Steve involved and
get an appraisal."
Upon Gross' return to the
i- room, he was presented with
le the council's waiver of con-
L't flirt of interest.
n- He said that usually a waiv-
)- er of that kind happened after
terms had already been nego-
e tiated, which was not the case
d here. He cautioned that there
]e was a potential for a conflict
It, of interest, but that he was
ht willing to try. "If it feels un-
ae comfortable, I will have to
at stop."
As a next step, Hayes will
e bring the attorney's conflict of
e, interest issue before the full
ca hospital board at its next
40 meeting and introduce discus-
ll- sion about securing a loan.
le00 / CEO
enough gratitude and res
for Linda Jameson. She [
filled the role of interim C]
for almost nine months."
"She did not just fill r(
She has actively taken P]
in new directions, collabor at-
ing with other hospitals and
health care organizations in
Our area, overseen grant ,}p-
portunities, worked on ph3 si-
cian recruitment, all while
continuing to oversee nurs ng
as chief nursing officer an a
handful of other very impor-
tant roles at the hospital.
"Her work ethic and saff
ct
as
O
le.
)H
relations have been excep-
tional. We look forward to her
continued service to PDH as
chief nursing officer."
Following her appointment
as interim CEO, Jameson im-
mediately applied for the per-
manent position. The 10-mem-
ber search committee elimi-
nated her after narrowing the
field to two candidates follow-
ing the initial interviews.
Flanigan said the quality of
the candidates, including
Jameson, put forward by Don
Whiteside of HFS Consul-
tants, was excellent.
Annual Mile High 100 dra,,,,s 450 riders, many rlew
M. Kate West
Chester Editor
chesternews@plu masnews'c°m
The 29th annual Mile High
100 drew an amazing 450 rid-
ers to the Chester Park on Sat-
Urday, June 18.
Hosted by the Lake A1-
manor Chamber of Commerce
and Visitors Bureau the Sat-
urday of Father's.Day week-
end each year, it's hard to
judge what demographic par-
ticipates most in the event.
While it's apparent persons
of all ages, ethnicities and bi-
cycle skill levels enjoy taking
to our high-mountain rOad-
ways, observed groupings
seemed to contain more
women this year. There also
seemed to be fewer children
riding.
Co-chairman Don Van Alert
offered some interesting sta-
tistics from the overall regis-
trations.
Traveling the farthest was a
participant from Seattle,
Wash. Van Alen said there
were also several riders from
Oregon. the Bay Area and
Santa Cruz.
He also said, "We had only
10 Lake Almanor Basin riders
register. The majority of the
riders traveled in from Chico,
Redding and Reno."
Likely the most interesting
fact: 50 percent of the regis-
trants had never ridden the
Mile High 100 before.
This event offers riders the
choice of three routes:
The century ride is 108
miles long and takes riders
from the Chester Park to
Warner Valley, back out
again, around the East Shore
of Lake Almanor, around Indi-
an Valley and around the
West Shore back into Chester.
The metric century is 56
miles long and encompasses
the entire Basin by going from
the park to Warner Valley and
then the 35 miles around Lake
Almanor.
The half metric century is
35 miles long and travels the
circumference of Lake Al-
manor.
"Another telling fact about
the draw of the Mile High 100
is that more people rode the
century than any other of the
offered options," Van Alen
said.
The next most popular ride
was the 56-mile long metric
century. "There were some
very heavy duty riders this
year," added Van Alen.
As part of the annual
fundraiser, the chamber sells
tickets for a new bicycle.
"This year, Lake Almanor
resident David Bruker pur-
chased a single ticket and
won the Gary Fischer bicycle
provided by Bodfish Bicycles
EPHC Now Offers
Digital Mammography.
i liii I DAVID Jo HEASLETT -/
a, ' "V
.... Nan e Californian
- (.,,aet,ala=:
gggregute g gsphnlt Products, Int.
Serving Plumas, Lassen & Tehama Counties
Locally owned and operated
Asphalt. Rock o Sand. Gravel
Please call for material and placement pricing
530-258-4555
6600 Old Ski Rd., Chester
CalTrans 109 Certified • Delivery Available
I
and Quiet Mountain Sports."
Van Alert said. The retail val-
ue of the bicycle is $800.
As part of the packet, their
registration wristbands enti-
tled riders to snacks at rest
stops and an enticing
spaghetti dinner prepared by
the Lake Almanor Elks
Lodge.
Van Alert said the Elks fed
about 340 people this year.
m
$80 July Mammo Special
No Referral Necessary
• Higher quaiity! Radiologists can focus on and evaluate areas of
concern utilizing magnification and contrasting.
• Faster! Digital images are interpreted by the radiologist and returned
within 24 hours.
• Safer! 50% less radiation than film mammograms; less radiation than
any other digital mammography system in our region.
• More comfortable! Requiring less time, the new mammography is a
gentler way for women to stay current on their breast screenings.
EPHC is the only health care provider to offer digital mammography in Plumas
or Sierra Counties. For further information or to make an appointment in our
Imaging Department, please call: 530.832.6516, or visit our website,
www.ephc.org
*Payment due at time of service. Insurance will not be billed. You must be 18years or older.
Jl
q00hEastern Plumas Health Care
00People Helping People
www.ephc.org 500 First Avenue, Portola, CA 96122 530.832.6500